BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Department of Information Technology (DoIT) this week announced that it is offering free AI courses and workshops to state employees. This is part of an effort to make the technology more accessible and responsible for the public sector.

The State of Maryland’s educational AI resources are made possible through its partnership with InnovateUS, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving lives by enabling public professionals to deliver more effective and equitable policies and services. The state aims to have an AI inventory that publicly details all live AI use cases in the state to help facilitate responsible and ethical implementation.

“Generative Artificial intelligence (GenAI) is transforming society and work in myriad ways, unlocking new opportunities for Maryland’s government services. At the same time, AI poses risks that the State must consider and mitigate,” says Katie Savage, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Information Technology and Chair of the AI Subcabinet. “By prioritizing best-in-class education, the State’s workforce will be able to identify risks and opportunities more quickly and implement this technology effectively and responsibly.”

The AI subcabinet, established by an executive order in January 2024, is responsible for coordinating statewide efforts to facilitate responsible, ethical, and productive AI use. The subcabinet will also be releasing policies, roadmaps, and other guidelines to guide the responsible use of AI technologies across the state.

Beth Simone Noveck, Founder of InnovateUS, says, “We’re thrilled to partner with the Maryland Department of Information Technology in this important initiative. Our goal is to empower Maryland public professionals with the skills they need to tackle today’s complex challenges and build a more responsive, efficient government.”

The free AI courses and workshops (full list available here) are available to all state employees.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

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