Communications of the ACM

The Little Hoover Commission found that between now and 2030 AI technologies could have an economic impact in California of well more than $400 billion and anywhere from 1 to 11 million California jobs could be impacted. While California state government has made some strides to use modern technology to improve operations and services, the state is ill prepared for the inevitable changes AI will bring. California state government lacks the infrastructure necessary to plan strategically for and take advantage of AI technologies while minimizing the risks associated with smarter and smarter machines.

In Artificial Intelligence: A Roadmap for California, the Commission calls for immediate action by the Governor and Legislature to adopt an agenda that revolves around public engagement, building a human infrastructure, attacking pressing social needs, and protecting core values—autonomy, responsibility, privacy, transparency and accountability. The Commission also makes a number of recommendations, including, the appointment of an AI special advisor to oversee the deployment of AI technology and applications in state government; creation of an AI commission to develop AI-related demonstration projects for critical state services; and promotion of apprenticeships and other training opportunities for employees whose jobs and/or classifications may be displaced or transformed by AI technologies and applications.