The initial study on the benefits and array of risks associated with conceptual artificial intelligence was completed by the AI workforce in California.
On Tuesday, the office of California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, unveiled a new report highlighting the potential advantages of relational AI for the state government. This includes improving security, enhancing access to state services, and outlining the risks associated with the technology.
This report marks a significant milestone following an executive order issued by Newsom in September to explore the application of emerging technology within the state government and its economic potential. The innovative technology primarily originates from software companies in California. The comprehensive 34-page document outlines six potential applications of relational AI in California, with a major focus on examining the various risks related to privacy, security, workforce, operations, transparency, safety, and government accountability.
The report underscores that conceptual AI can amplify existing threats and introduce new ones. For instance, there are concerns about generative AI enabling malicious actors to create dangerous weapons, spreading misinformation, generating offensive content, and creating deepfake materials that manipulate images, speech, or text. Additionally, generative AI could potentially lower barriers for bad actors to launch damaging campaigns on social media.
Officials also highlighted the challenge of understanding how conceptual AI systems reach their conclusions, anticipating data collection to become increasingly complex in the future. Moreover, relational AI poses new cybersecurity risks for California, including the potential for malicious activities such as altering access rights, data theft, and producing deceptive content to aid cyberattacks.
Innovators in Relational AI
Despite these challenges, the team of writers appointed by Newsom, including Chief Information Officer Liana Bailey-Crimmins, remains optimistic about the state’s role in advancing conceptual AI. Bailey-Crimmins emphasized the state’s eagerness to lead in conceptual AI initiatives, foreseeing a timeline of years for significant progress.
The implementation of GenAI is expected to streamline access to essential government services, saving time and resources for Californians. The report also highlights the potential benefits of enhanced services, improved efficiency, and the ability to anticipate user needs.
Amy Tong, California’s Secretary of Federal Operations, views the state as a potential trailblazer in adopting new applications of AI technology. Tong emphasized the importance of leveraging technology to enhance government operations and services for Californians through strategic trials and thoughtful implementation.
The report outlines six key areas where California state agencies can leverage conceptual AI, including data categorization, accessibility improvements for underserved demographics, multilingual support, decision-making support, cybersecurity threat detection, and operational optimization for climate considerations.
Next Steps
Following the initial phase of Newsom’s AI initiative, officials are tasked with developing training materials for state employees, forming partnerships with local institutions, and creating tools for testing conceptual AI products before widespread adoption. The state aims to continue researching the impact of AI on government operations.
As part of the directive, the AI task force is expected to develop a procurement strategy that aligns with national AI frameworks to ensure a robust innovation ecosystem within the state government. Collaboration with academic institutions like the University of California, Berkeley, and Stanford is planned to deepen the understanding of relational AI’s implications. Additionally, a conference is scheduled to discuss the impact of conceptual AI on the state and its workforce in the upcoming year.
