California may use artificial intelligence in some of its state agencies soon.
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D-CA) administration announced on Thursday that the state will partner with five companies to develop and test AI tools in order to improve public service.
California is hoping that AI can cut down wait times for customers calling state agencies, and the state is one of the first to use the advanced tool. California’s Department of Tax and Fee Administration, the California Department of Transportation, the Department of Public Health, and the Health and Human Services Department will test AI first.
The state is hoping AI can assist workers, among other things, to pull up tax codes and service customers faster at the tax and fee agency. The state will begin a six-month trial with the tools and will only pay each of the five companies $1 each as an audition for a potential large contract.
“If it turns out it doesn’t serve the public better, then we’re out a dollar,” Nick Maduros, director of the tax and fee agency, said. “And I think that’s a pretty good deal for the citizens of California.”
The state is currently dealing with a massive budget deficit, and the low-cost trial could help workshop new methods to improve service while officials solve California’s money problems.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
If the state is still nursing a large budget deficit when the trial is over, though it could be hard for California to sell a large contract to citizens when AI has been accused of bias and many are still skeptical of the technology.
The companies participating in the trial are Deloitte Consulting, LLP, INRIX, Inc., Accenture, LLP, Ignyte Group, LLC, SymSoft Solutions LLC.
