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A task force charged with studying emerging AI technologies and their potential societal impacts has filed its report to the governor. The resulting assessment offers recommendations for government actions to encourage the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence.

Last October, Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order establishing the AI Task Force to identify a course of action to ensure the Garden State leverages AI in a responsible and ethical way to improve government services, achieve equity, and catalyze economic opportunities for residents and businesses.

“As AI technologies continue to expand and advance at unprecedented pace, New Jersey remains at the forefront – building up the Garden State as a hub for innovation,” said Murphy. “This report details the potential for AI to improve the efficiency of state government services for our residents – while supporting our mission of building an equitable opportunity economy in the Garden State.”

In compiling the report, the AI Task Force co-chairs formed four working groups of subject matter experts as well as consulted with industry leaders, academic experts, consumer advocates and government innovators to build out the recommendations. The effort also included a nation-leading promotion to survey the state’s workforce, residents, institutions and businesses on their views on AI technologies.

“Rather than a top-down process, we created this road map by directly engaging public and private workers to ensure this technology is used to empower workers and serve residents,” said New Jersey Chief AI Strategist Beth Simone Noveck, an AI Task Force co-chair.

The four Working Group areas include:

• Security, Safety, and Privacy Considerations for AI Use Cases
• Workforce Training, Jobs of the Future, and Training Public Professionals
• AI, Equity, and Literacy
• Making New Jersey a Hub for AI Innovation

“AI, particularly GenAI, is poised to transform the workforce, economy, and the way government interacts with and serves constituents. The State of New Jersey should embrace this change by investing in AI research and innovation in a responsible manner that considers the interests of New Jersey residents, businesses, and visitors, promotes economic opportunity and equity, and protects data privacy and safety,” the executive summary of the report stated.

Recommendations includes ways to:

• Expand opportunities for AI education and literacy
• Promote a strong workforce and AI talent pipeline
• Address biases and discrimination
• Foster a collaborative AI innovation ecosystem and economy across the state
• Bolster the state’s use of GenAI to support policy outcomes and improve the resident experience

“New Jersey stands at a pivotal moment to harness the transformative power of AI technologies, particularly GenAI, to unlock significant economic potential,” the report said in its closing. “By integrating these innovations, the State can create new job opportunities for its workforce, catalyze business creation and entrepreneurial growth, enhance government services for greater efficiency, and foster a more inclusive and equitable society.”

Strategic innovation

However, the authors note that capturing these benefits requires a strategic approach that “prioritizes ethical use, privacy, and security to ensure AI is deployed responsibly and equitably.”

“Under Governor Murphy’s ambitious AI Moonshot initiative, New Jersey is doing just that,” the report states. “As outlined in this report, the State is leveraging AI to transform its own operations and services while also creating the conditions for AI to provide economic opportunities for all New Jerseyans.”

Officials say that the report builds on the Murphy administration‘s efforts to cement New Jersey as a leader in this space – which has included an AI Moonshot, the creation of an NJ AI Hub, the unveiling of an AI tool for state employees, and more.

“This report will serve as a roadmap to help New Jersey emerge as a national leader in the industry, while ensuring our residents, workers, and businesses can safely take advantage of the opportunities and benefits that the industry provides,” said New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) CEO Tim Sullivan. “Under Governor Murphy’s leadership, New Jersey is capitalizing on this moment to help drive innovation, spur investment, create jobs, and build long-term economic growth across the state.”

“For its entire history, New Jersey has been a leader in innovating and adopting new technologies. With these recommendations and initiatives, New Jersey is once again positioning itself as a pioneer in harnessing AI’s potential, showing how states can create a more efficient, responsive, and tech-driven future for all,” the report said in its closing.

“I am grateful to the Task Force for their recommendations and look forward to implementing them in the coming months,” said Murphy.

The full report is available here.