Governor Murphy unveils AI tool for state employees and training course for responsible use
TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy announced the launch of the NJ AI Assistant, a generative AI-powered platform for New Jersey State employees, alongside one of the nation’s first comprehensive generative AI (GenAI) training programs for State employees. This initiative builds on his previous AI training commitment to New Jersey’s State workforce.
The NJ AI Assistant is a GenAI tool providing a secure "sandbox" environment for staff at State departments and agencies to use AI responsibly to improve government services and operations. Hosted on State infrastructure, it features heightened security and privacy protections and does not utilize State data to train third-party AI models.
The release of the NJ AI Assistant is accompanied by a baseline GenAI training course designed in partnership with InnovateUS. This course instructs State government professionals on responsibly using the technology to deliver optimal service to New Jersey residents. The training ensures that any use of AI is safe, secure, respectful of residents’ privacy, free of bias, and aligned with State policies.
“With the launch of the State’s very own AI Assistant and the GenAI training course, we are on the cusp of a new era of government transformation. We are empowering our public servants with the knowledge, skills, and training to comfortably and responsibly leverage this technology to solve real problems for New Jerseyans,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “I look forward to all the ways our State departments and agencies will put this technology to good use, ensuring New Jersey remains the best place to live, work, and raise a family.”
“Generative AI is evolving in real time, and now our public workforce will be on the forefront of advancing this technology and helping to realize its boundless potential to build a better New Jersey,” said New Jersey State Chief AI Strategist Beth Simone Noveck. “This tool and training will help State departments enhance public service delivery, improve efficiency, and ensure these innovations are accessible and beneficial to all New Jerseyans while protecting their rights and privacy.”
“This is a powerful example of government technology and policies at their best. Under Governor Murphy’s leadership, New Jersey is proactively shaping best practices for how we can harness the full potential of AI for the public good and ensure it is responsibly and equitably used to make our lives better,” said New Jersey State Chief Innovation Officer Dave Cole. “The Office of Innovation has seen incredible results with its early uses of AI, and we are excited to see these tools in the hands of even more public sector employees.”
“New Jersey government professionals have shown time and time again their incredible dedication, innovative thinking, and diligence in serving the people of our State. That is why we are so committed to ensuring State employees have access to the latest training and resources,” said Allison Chris Myers, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Civil Service Commission (CSC). “With CSC’s Center for Learning and Improving Performance's new course in AI, staff will gain skills that leverage cutting-edge technology in order to better serve residents.”
“Generative AI holds tremendous potential in enhancing government services and uplifting communities, but we must ensure we are applying this technology equitably and securely,” said New Jersey State Chief Technology Officer Chris Rein. “The NJ AI Assistant and training course demonstrate our ongoing commitment to ensuring government use of this technology is respectful of residents’ privacy, free of bias, and equitable. We will not lose sight of this commitment as we work to bring the benefits of AI to residents.”
Designed in consultation with federal, state industry leaders as well as New Jersey’s public sector workforce; The AI training course offers an overview on generative A.I., best practices for responsible use day-to-day work; Strategies identifying overcoming risks like bias; Provides hands-on guidance using GenAI suggest plain language improvements public information; Summarize lengthy documents; Brainstorm generate new content more; Course free voluntary all state employees completed individual pace.
Meanwhile NJ Ai Assistant provides state employees powerful Ai tool test cases described training secure platform heightened security data protections.
State departments agencies begun using generative Ai limited cases improve services Working with Department Labor Workforce Development Office Innovation used Ai help rewrite emails plain language residents responding 35% faster result At ANCHOR property tax program call center Division Taxation using Ai tools analyze calls generate better self-service menu options residents find need without waiting hold speak agent leading 50% increase successfully resolved calls
Ai Training NJ Ai Assistant tool build policy Governor Murphy announced November guides state employees responsibly using generative Ai improve delivers services moves part Executive Order No 346 established Task Force directed Office Information Technology develop policies govern facilitate use artificial intelligence technologies Executive Branch departments agencies
Ai Training Course available state government employees through Civil Service Commission learning management system
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