Cox’s ‘pro-human AI’ order directs state government to use ‘responsible’ artificial intelligence

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox on Tuesday signed an executive order meant to “promote responsible AI use within government” by using “pro-human” principles when evaluating artificial intelligence tools. 

The executive order sets a “structured, pro-human framework for artificial intelligence integration across state government,” the governor’s office said in a news release. 

It’s meant to advance Utah’s Pro-Human AI Initiative, an effort launched in December 2025, by directing state agencies to “maintain rigorous safeguards for human agency, data privacy and trust” while also using AI to “enhance public services and improve efficiency,” the governor’s office said. 

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Under the executive order, state government agencies are directed to require AI literacy training for employees while also requiring them to use AI tools to “streamline internal processes and radically improve citizen-facing applications.”

“The choice between innovation and safety in government is a false one,” Cox said in a prepared statement. “AI represents a generational opportunity to better serve Utahns, but technology must always remain accountable to the people.”

Cox added that by “ensuring our approach is strictly human-guided and human-enhancing, Utah is demonstrating how state government can lead the nation in deploying cutting-edge technology while preserving individual liberty, privacy, and human dignity.”

The governor’s order tasks the Department of Government Operations “to lead the state in the use of AI-driven process improvements, choosing tools that adhere to Pro-Human AI principles.” 

It also requires the Division of Technology Services to coordinate with the Division of Human Resources Management to design and implement a “comprehensive AI literacy training strategy for all state agency employees” as well as “specialized training for agency AI leads.”

Under the order, all state agencies are also required to “evaluate opportunities for optimizing and transforming state government business functions through the use of AI technology in a cost-effective manner.” They’re directed to “actively investigate and propose areas where citizen-facing government processes and automated workflows can responsibly be optimized or transformed using AI technology.” 

Marvin Dodge, commissioner of the Utah Department of Government Operations and a member of the Pro-Human AI Task Force, said in a statement that “state government must exemplify both operational excellence and ethical responsibility as we adopt these powerful technologies.”

“Through comprehensive employee literacy, robust technical safeguards, and privacy-preserving digital identity frameworks, we are empowering our workforce to innovate safely and deliver faster, more transparent outcomes for all Utahns,” Dodge said.

The co-chairs of Utah’s Pro-Human AI Initiative — Margaret Woolley Busse, commissioner of the Utah Department of Commerce, and Jefferson Moss, commissioner of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development — also issued a joint statement applauding the executive order, calling it a “vital action” for the effort.

“By establishing these standards, state agencies are empowered to harness AI tools dynamically and efficiently while preserving public trust, transparency, and accountability,” Busse and Moss said.