For immediate release:
Contact: Nathan Miller
nathan.miller1@maryland.gov
443-346-3972
Crownsville, MD: Today, the Maryland Department of Information Technology (DoIT) and the Maryland AI Subcabinet are announcing that they have submitted the AI Enablement Strategy & AI Study Roadmap (AI roadmap) to the Maryland General Assembly. The roadmap lays out a 5-part strategy the state will pursue to hasten the safe implementation of AI and machine learning technologies across the state. It also outlines specific studies the state will pursue across 12 critical domains, including catalyzing economic development,improving the productivity of the state workforce, and establishing policies for local school systems.
“Generative AI is evolving at an unprecedented rate and could affect Marylanders in nearly every facet of their lives,” says
DoIT Secretary and AI Subcabinet Chair Katie Savage. “The AI roadmap charts a course for the State of Maryland in 2025, helping it accelerate the pace of AI adoption while considering the unique assets, opportunities, and risks present in Maryland. We are poised to adopt this technology in practical ways to make our state safer, more competitive, and more productive.”
In January 2024, Governor Moore issued an executive order that began the work of enhancing government services through AI technologies. Led by DoIT and the AI Subcabinet, the State of Maryland has begun laying the foundations for the ethical and productive use of AI through several initiatives,including providing guidance and free courses for state employees and kicking off several AI pilotprograms that experiment with AI in low-risk settings.
The state’s strategy in 2025 to increase the pace of experimentation, iteration, and adoption of AI technologies involves:
-
Maturing the state’s AI governance capabilities by implementing sector-specific governance frameworks that adhere to the state’s 6 AI principles.
-
Strengthening the state’s data foundations so GenAI produces trusted and reliable outputs.
-
Building momentum around experimentation and adoption of AI technologies to help state agencies move from successful experiments to scaled solutions that can improve state services and improve the lives of Marylanders
-
Increasing the state’s “AI IQ.” A better-trained state workforce and stronger relationships with leading academic institutions, civil societies, and industry leaders will help the state identify opportunities and risks more quickly.
-
Studying and cohering state approaches to AI in critical domains to ensure the state approaches AI-related impacts with a strong grounding in Maryland-specific trends and constituent perspectives.
Senior Advisor for Responsible AI and AI Subcabinet member Nishant Shah leads the state’s first AI enablement team, which works with key stakeholders to coordinate and execute Maryland's AI strategy and policies centered on responsible and productive use.
"2025 will be an important year in the broader AI landscape. Our approach is to execute a practical and focused strategy that will set the State up for success in responsible and productive adoption, no matter the direction AI technologies evolve,” says Shah. “Our North Star is adopting the technology in ways that can improve life for Marylanders and decrease drudgery for the State workforce. To that end, the AI Strategy and Study Roadmap will remain a living document that takes into account Maryland-specific needs and ensures we stay pointed towards that North Star."
To account for the effects of this rapidly evolving technology, the AI roadmap details specific plans across 12 critical domains, from economic development and healthcare service delivery to local school systems and public safety. Depending on the findings and context of the studies, the state has specified plans to create specific reports, recommendations, AI pilot initiatives, agency AI workstreams, and policy changes.
“Investing in AI technologies will help grow Maryland’s business community, from increasing innovation in our startup community to helping manufacturers boost productivity,” says
Maryland Commerce Secretary and Subcabinet Member Kevin Anderson. “We believe this AI roadmap has the potential to enhance our economy and ultimately boost our competitiveness among the states.”
“This roadmap is a key step forward in helping Maryland manage the risks and opportunities associated with AI,” says
Maryland Secretary of Labor and Subcabinet Member Portia Wu. “It is important to ensure that the state government workforce is prepared to use AI safely, responsively, and effectively, to better serve Marylanders. We will also examine the impacts that AI will have on the broader Maryland workforce and how policy and training programs regarding AI can support all workers.”
“As the Maryland State Department of Education works to address the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence in education, we are focused on providing educators with detailed guidelines and practical resources,” says
MSDE Assistant State Superintendent, Administration and Operations and Subcabinet Member Shawn Fritz-Rushing. “This guidance will establish essential AI cybersecurity policies, an innovative resource hub, and proven best practices. We will continue enhancing this initiative over the next few months to support effective AI integration in the classroom.”
By following the AI Roadmap, Maryland will become more competitive, and the state workforce will become more efficient, ensuring that no one is left behind.
The AI Roadmap can be found
here.