Gov. Tina Kotek on Tuesday urged her new advisory council on artificial intelligence to weigh the risks and rewards of the next frontier in technology.
The State Government Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council, created by an executive order, is charged with mapping out the role of AI in state government. It met for the first time on Tuesday and is tasked with giving Kotek’s office guidelines for the use of AI by September. The recommendations are to include ways for the state to use the technology in an equitable and transparent way.
AI is a powerful tool that can quickly do tasks like transcribing audio or analyzing and scanning documents, saving hours of labor. But AI relies upon manmade algorithms, and human error and biases can creep in without safeguards. For example, AI relies upon facial recognition technology to scan and locate criminals, but the technology is imperfect and raises privacy concerns.
Kotek talked to the group via a video connection, and then picked up the phone to call in after her audio failed, telling the group, “Let’s go old school.”
She called AI a “new frontier.”
“I hold a little bit of healthy skepticism about all new technologies,” Kotek said. “And I think we all know that AI can bring potential benefits to our society, to how we do business. We just need to be cognizant of what those goals are and what risks we should be aware of and prepare for.”
For example, Kotek said, AI can potentially help the state streamline its work and free up government staffers to work directly with the public and enhance customer service.
AI also has risks, Kotek said, stressing the need to avoid systemic inequities or racism with faulty algorithms. The American Civil Liberties Union and others have raised concerns that the automated systems in AI can lead to racism, making it more difficult for people to obtain housing or jobs with systems that screen for specific word choices in applications and even voice tones in video interviews.
“I think anytime you’re moving into unknown territory with new technology, we just have to be thinking across the system,” Kotek said.
That includes elections.
Legislative bills
This session, Oregon lawmakers passed Senate Bill 1571, which would require political campaigns to disclose when their campaign materials use AI or digital technology to manipulate an image, video or audio to sway voters. Kotek hasn’t signed it yet.
Washington state has a similar law, and other states have considered AI laws for campaigns this year.
In 2023, at least 25 states introduced bills about AI, and 18 states and Puerto Rico passed proposals, according to a National Conference of State Legislatures report.
And AI is on the radar of local governments too. Charles Henderson, a senior cybersecurity analyst with Washington County, told the group that local government agencies face a shortage of personnel needed to safeguard against potential AI hacks.
“There has been a staggering increase in the quality of AI hacking, deep fakes and image creation,” he said. “I think many of us in this field fear that society as a whole is going to be caught kind of flat-footed on how to effectively respond to going forward. Ultimately, it’s beginning to kind of feel like the only way to meaningfully combat the growing number of AI attacks or potential AI attacks is with a more robust AI defense.”
Terrence Woods, the state chief information officer and council’s chair, said that recruitment for cybersecurity positions is a challenge and the state continues to look for ways to boost its recruiting efforts.
AI specialists are relatively rare in Oregon state government. Kotek, for example, does not have an AI czar and Woods’ job is broader than solely AI.
The 15-member council anticipates meeting at least once every six weeks, possibly more often, to accomplish its work.
Tuesday’s introductory meeting didn’t include a lengthy discussion of AI policies. Rather, the 15-member group received information about the public records and open meetings laws. Members include Sen. Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, Rep. Daniel Nguyen, D-Lake Oswego, staff in government agencies and members of the business community.
Oregon Capital Chronicle
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