West Virginia Fusion Center Deputy Director Steven Patterson has been appointed to serve on his state’s Governor’s Task Force on AI in State Government.
The Center for Homeland Defense and Security alum represents the state’s fusion center on the 14-member task force, which is comprised of a mix of representatives from the public and private sectors.
Patterson (Master’s Program cohort 2105/2106) said the task force was formed through state legislation and will be responsible for completing a series of requirements ranging from recommending a definition of AI as it pertains to its use in technology for use in legislation and determining the relevant state agency or agencies to develop and oversee artificial intelligence policy and implementation of that policy to determining which public interest use cases exist or may exist for artificial intelligence and developing best practices for public sector uses of artificial intelligence in the State, among several others.
As a member of the task force’s public sector subcommittee, Patterson said he and his fellow members are charged with “looking into the current use of artificial intelligence in state government agencies, what appetite there is for future use, what concerns arise, and what adoption of AI use looks like.” The other subcommittees cover the private sector and the health and education sector.
A preliminary report is due to the State Legislature in February and a final report is due to the Governor by July 1.
Patterson said the impetus for the report is “the rapid rate at which technology is showing up in the marketplace,” and “how it’s starting to affect products the state’s buying” and how that’s “affecting state agencies.” Questions to be considered, he said, include “what guardrails should we put in; what are the pros and cons; what are our concerns; how do we think it’ll benefit [the State] and make things more efficient, if it can; what are the things that we’re concerned about that could be consequences of using this type of technology. And then, if the private sector is interacting with the State, how that’s working, what’s the economic impact of all the implications around AI, do we want to potentially look at having server farms inside the state, and we’re looking at power consumption and all these different things. There [are] so many unanswered questions.”
Patterson said there’s a possibility the task force may continue working beyond its statutory deadline, or could even morph into a different form altogether.
“I think everyone’s seeing it’s a broader issue that’s going to touch almost every aspect of the state side, the public sector side, and the private side is going to be heavily affected by it as well,” he said. “And so I think there is going to be an aspect that’s hopefully going to continue on, even if it’s not the same people that are here now.”
Patterson said his educational experience at CHDS has had a major effect on his work and career, including his interest in AI and his selection for the task force. He cited the instruction on critical infrastructure and emerging technologies as particularly helpful and relevant, as well as the atmosphere created by instructors and fellow students.
“Being out there and being around everybody and being around that type of kind of energy with the people there you’re dealing with, the best people in their fields, and the exchange of ideas and how we talk through things, it’s absolutely pivotal in almost everything I do today,” he said. “I think you just go in better prepared to serve on [the task force] and to be a benefit for the policies that are coming. That’s one thing they always talked about [at CHDS] was the people that come through there are the future policy makers, future leaders. AI has been an interest of mine, especially after being [at CHDS]. I’ve got something of a passion for it, so to be able to provide a positive piece to [the task force] is a benefit.”
