Rhode Island now has its own AI task force and data center

A new state agency and task force launched Wednesday to oversee the rapidly growing set of technologies involving artificial intelligence (AI) and put them to efficient use in state government and local businesses. 

In an event at Rhode Island College (RIC), an executive order signed by Gov. Dan McKee inaugurated the Artificial Intelligence Task Force and a Center of Excellence for AI and Data. 

“Rather than simply react to the changes in the information technology landscape, I want Rhode Island to be a leader as this field evolves,” McKee said in a statement. “This executive order is the first step in being proactive and preparing state government for this new technology.” 

Former U.S. Representative Jim Langevin, the chair of RIC’s Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies, is also the chair of the task force, which is charged with evaluating the “risks and opportunities” associated with AI use and advancement, according to a news release.  

The Department of Administration will lead the Center of Excellence for AI, in consultation with the Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies. Together, the two entities will create a code of ethics for AI use within the state. The Data Center of Excellence, meanwhile, will guide state leaders on how to best use data in their decision making, and will be led by the new state position of chief data officer. The job is not yet posted on the state’s career page.

The executive order also creates a statewide data platform that will compile existing infrastructures, including the Data Ecosystem at the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the Rhode Island Longitudinal Data System, which is run by the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner.

“Being able to readily connect and analyze data across state programs will afford us better insights on the effects programs have on Rhode Island communities and will enable state leaders to make more data-driven decisions,” said Department of Administration Director Jonathan Womer. 

There have been several attempts at regulating AI in the current legislative session. Bill H7158, introduced by Providence Democrat Rep. John Lombardi, would require the Department of Administration to inventory all state agencies that use AI.

Rep. Jacquelyn Baginski, a Cranston Democrat, introduced Bill H7521, which would allow for civil action against parties that use AI in a way which contributes to “algorithmic discrimination” — for example, an institution using AI to automate decision making about important things like employment, financial aid or family planning. 

Baginski also introduced a house companion bill H7387 to Bill S2456 in the Senate, which was led by Middletown Democrat Sen. Lou DiPalma. Both bills are designed to prevent the undisclosed use of “synthetic media,” which includes AI-generated content and deep fakes, in election communications within 90 days of an election.   

AI first engrossed the public’s attention in 2022 with imaging technologies like DALL-E and MidJourney, which are able to render fully composed images with text prompts, and ChatGPT, which generates text in response to a user’s questions. Growth in the industry means there are now AI-assisted tools for everything from audio transcription and music generation to calendar and inbox management.     

Massachusetts launched its own AI task force on Feb. 14, via an executive from Gov. Maura Healey.