Pennsylvania’s $108K AI pilot saves employees 95 minutes daily

Pennsylvania has launched a year-long generative AI pilot program with 175 employees across 14 state agencies, incorporating ChatGPT Enterprise into routine government work like brainstorming and document proofreading. The $108,000 pilot program saved employees an average of 95 minutes per day and has encouraged the state to explore broader AI adoption, positioning Pennsylvania as one of the first states to systematically examine generative AI usage across government operations.

Key results: The pilot program demonstrated significant time savings and positive employee reception, leading to expansion plans.

• Employees used ChatGPT Enterprise primarily for “writing assistance, research, brainstorming and summarizing large amounts of text or data,” according to Dan Egan, communications director for the Office of Administration.
• OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, cited Pennsylvania’s pilot program in a press release announcing ChatGPT Gov, designed specifically for government use.
• The state is now “exploring ways to expand access to these tools to employees,” with mandatory training on “safe and responsible AI use” as a prerequisite.

Safety measures in place: Pennsylvania has established strict policies to mitigate AI risks while maintaining human oversight.

• The commonwealth’s AI policy prohibits using generative AI to make decisions for employees and requires users to review and verify anything created by AI.
• Private data or information cannot be entered into generative AI tools under current guidelines.
• All state IT policies undergo annual review, with the AI policy scheduled for review in March.

Expert warnings: Researchers emphasize the need for careful verification of AI-generated content due to inherent limitations.

• “You have to understand that generative AI in particular, it can be incorrect,” said Cole Gessner, responsible AI program manager at Carnegie Mellon University’s Block Center for Technology and Society. “You have to treat it almost like it’s a summer intern, right? You have to double check its work.”
• The Block Center advised the state on implementing AI in its pilot program and continues working with government leaders across Pennsylvania.

Local government adoption: Several Pennsylvania agencies and authorities are developing their own AI initiatives.

• Allegheny County is developing an AI policy with hopes of finalizing it this year, making it an exception among local governments that lack specific AI guidelines.
• The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) is finalizing a $160,000 contract with Bob.ai to implement AI in processing recertifications for its 5,100 tenants, with estimated reductions of up to 50% in processing times and 75% in backlog.
• HACP also launched a one-year Google Gemini pilot for 60 employees in April, primarily for optimizing communication and drafting documents.

Future applications: State officials and representatives are exploring AI use in specific government functions like permitting and environmental review.

• Rep. Jason Ortitay, R-Cecil, hopes to launch a pilot program at a Department of Environmental Protection district office to test AI for processing permit applications.
• The state Department of Human Services is “exploring opportunities to responsibly use AI to drive efficiencies that promote an employee-first approach,” according to DHS press secretary Brandon Cwalina.

Governance structure: Gov. Josh Shapiro has established comprehensive oversight mechanisms for AI implementation.

• A 2023 executive order established standards for generative AI use in state government and created a Generative AI Governing Board to oversee policy and implementation.
• A Generative AI Labor and Management Collaboration Group, created in March, takes input from employees and labor representatives when considering AI use in government.

What they’re saying: Officials emphasize AI as a tool to enhance rather than replace human workers.

• “The Shapiro Administration has consistently emphasized that generative AI is not a replacement for the knowledge and experience of Commonwealth employees,” Egan said.
• “We’re adding the AI component very conservatively,” said Monty Ayyash, HACP’s senior IT director. “We are monitoring any sort of behavior that might indicate that it could really challenge the actual day-to-day business operations that our employees are used to doing.”