Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania now ranks among the top three states in the nation for AI readiness, thanks to Governor Josh Shapiro’s leadership in safely, responsibly, and effectively adopting generative artificial intelligence to improve government services. According to the July 2025 Government AI Landscape Assessment published by Code for America, Pennsylvania stands out for its AI leadership and governance, capacity building for employees, and strong technical infrastructure.
The Shapiro Administration is being recognized for its leadership in the safe, responsible, and effective use of generative artificial intelligence by Commonwealth employees to improve efficiency and deliver services more effectively. The report highlighted Pennsylvania’s proactive approach, noting its comprehensive policies, ethical frameworks, training initiatives, and pilot programs. According to the report, “Pennsylvania has demonstrated a strong commitment as an advanced state in AI maturity… positioning it as a leader in responsible AI adoption and innovation.”
The Code for America report highlighted Governor Shapiro’s Executive Order to create Generative AI Governing Board, collaborations with Carnegie Mellon University and InnovateUS, and the yearlong pilot of ChatGPT Enterprise with Commonwealth employees as contributing to Pennsylvania’s leadership among states. According to the report, “Pennsylvania has demonstrated a strong commitment as an advanced state in AI maturity through comprehensive policies, ethical frameworks, capacity building, and pilot programs. The state's proactive approach positions it as a leader in responsible AI adoption and innovation.”
AI Leadership and Governance
In September 2023, Governor Shapiro signed Executive Order 2023-19 establishing clear principles for generative AI use in state government — including accuracy, transparency, security, fairness, and employee empowerment. The order created a Generative AI Governing Board to oversee AI policy and implementation in the Commonwealth. The board is comprised of senior Administration officials from the Governor's Office, Office of General Counsel, Office of Administration (OA), and Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) who meet regularly to guide Commonwealth AI policy, use, and deployment.
In June 2025, Governor Shapiro also announced plans by Amazon to invest over $20 billion to build multiple state-of-the-art AI data center campuses in Pennsylvania, creating over 1,200 new jobs and positioning the state as a technology and innovation hub for years to come.
AI Capacity Building
In conjunction with his executive order, Governor Shapiro announced an agreement with Carnegie Mellon University's Block Center for Technology and Society, one of Pennsylvania's leading generative AI research institutions, to leverage faculty expertise and receive advisory support for the Generative AI Governance Board, as well as foster additional research support and collaboration on generative AI usage.
In December 2024, the Shapiro Administration announced an agreement with InnovateUS, a leading provider of no-cost training for public sector employees on the responsible use of generative artificial intelligence, to train Commonwealth employees on artificial intelligence and responsible use. The training courses use practical examples and exercises to help employees understand where, when, and how generative AI may be useful in their daily work or to help address a specific challenge.
Additionally, OA has updated the annual security awareness and acceptable use training for all Commonwealth employees to include generative AI, ensuring a basic level of AI literacy and understanding. An internal site for Commonwealth employees provides access to guidance, policies, training, and other resources to help them understand when and how to engage with generative AI technology and features.
Technical Infrastructure and Capabilities
In January 2024, Pennsylvania announced a first-in-the-nation pilot program in partnership with OpenAI to explore how generative AI could enhance productivity across state government.
Over one year, 175 employees from 14 agencies used ChatGPT Enterprise — more than 85 percent reported a positive experience, saving on average 95 minutes on days they used the tool.
The Code for America report also praised the Commonwealth’s centralized IT infrastructure and modern, cloud-based systems that enable secure, scalable AI deployment. Moving forward, the Shapiro Administration will expand employee access to AI tools, increase training opportunities, pilot additional AI applications, and maintain strong oversight through the Generative AI Governing Board.
Pennsylvania’s proactive approach to AI has set a national precedent, demonstrating that when deployed responsibly, generative AI can help government work smarter, faster, and more efficiently — while always keeping employees at the forefront. Learn more about Pennsylvania’s AI initiatives and read the full report.
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