The Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) held their annual conference on Oct. 22, 2024, at the Palmer Center in Austin, Texas. The focus of the conference was all about exploring data and technology’s impact on government agencies and organizations.

In the opening remarks, Doug Robinson of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers shared a list of data and tech priorities voted on by state CIOs. “For the last ten years, the most important priority has been cybersecurity and risk management,” Robinson said. “This year, there was a tie for first place with digital government services. Surprisingly, artificial intelligence (AI), which had never been on the list, rocketed up to number three.”

Some aspect of AI was discussed in every panel, and session and it seemed to be the central focus of conversation among the attendees. Robinson shared some additional information: 72% of states are already implementing policies on the development and use of AI and many other states have created advisory committees and task forces to tackle the emergence of this technology. Of the CIOs surveyed, only 8% aren’t using any type of AI app or tool.

Why is this important to libraries? Well, if federal, state, and local governments adopt technology and policies about data and technology, it’s going to eventually have an impact on your community and potentially, the library. Younger patrons and students will need these new technological skills for future employment. Adult patrons might find this emerging technology showing up in their work and should be prepared. Libraries could also employ this technology for training and hiring staff. As gateways to knowledge, libraries should have a solid understanding of AI and everything that comes with it.

What are State Governments Using AI For?

States have adopted AI tools for a variety of tasks including:

• Virtual meetings/Transcriptions
• Cybersecurity operations
• Document generation and management
• Software generation and coding
• Pilot programs for data analytics

84% of states are already using GenAI in cybersecurity or are planning to use it in the next 12 months. Robinson stated that the biggest challenge CIOs are facing is a lack of funding to balance the immediate public needs with future investments.

AI in Workforce Engagement and Talent Management

Steve Senterfit, the President of SmartBridge, a Houston-based technology consultant firm, presented his findings on how Generative AI is used in workforce development. As the workforce ages and technology advances, there are bigger gaps in knowledge. AI machines, primarily Large Language Models, or LLMs, can create text and images that help workers understand topics, interpret use cases, learn new skills, and ultimately, make decisions. AI can also speed up the hiring process and improve retention and engagement of current employees.

AI can be used in the workforce for:

• Training and compliance
• Performance management and operational improvement through personalized feedback and predictive insights that enable more accurate assessments of performance 
• Talent Intelligence, meaning automated resume screening, personalized job descriptions, and candidate engagement through AI driven chatbots with tailored interview questions 
• Employee retention with a personalized career development path and and turnover predictions
• Improved employee experience with automation of routine tasks and improved communication
• Development and growth by offering tailored learning resources with real-time feedback and generating data-driven insights to guide career progression

What’s Going on with AI in Texas?

I had to get a front row seat for this session with Dave Tucker, Director of Strategic Digital Services with the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR).

Dave spoke about DIR’s Innovation Lab at the Texas Innovation and Education Center (TIEC), located on the Capitol Complex in Austin. TIEC offers workshops, training, playbooks, and webinars to help engage with emerging technology.

The Innovation Lab is a secure location in the Sam Houston Building and was established as a place to come engage with this technology in a safe space. It’s a great way to learn about all things AI. Workshop attendees can use apps like Adobe Express for AI images or AWS Connect, which teaches the ins and out of chatbots. They also have Microsoft Pilot, an AI assistant that can develop apps and offer custom searches. There’s even a tutorial that helps you create your very own app from scratch!

DIR has been working on several proofs of concept for automatic document generation, email response generation, and AI powered training. They are also working on a generative AI legislative bill analysis tool for the Texas state government. Dave stated, “AI is great for creating first drafts of things, for structuring unstructured data.”

Dave also talked about HB 2060 from the last legislative session, which initiated the formation of the Texas Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council. The council is tasked with studying and monitoring AI systems developed by state agencies. The bill required the Council to assess the need for a state code of ethics for artificial intelligence systems in state government. The council will recommend policies necessary to protect privacy interests of Texas citizens and eliminate unfair discrimination that could be caused by AI. Currently, Texas has no laws to regulate the use and implementation of AI, but Dave suggested we can expect numerous bills in the upcoming legislative session.

Combining Artificial Intelligence with Virtual Reality

Of the top ten skills that are on the rise in the workforce, creative thinking, analytical thinking, and systems thinking are now very important when employers are looking at new hires. Oscar Medina, from Cornerstone OnDemand, discussed the blending of AI and virtual reality (VR) to improve these skills.

Cornerstone creates a virtual reality environment where users can interact with an AI avatar. These experiences can be used by HR for a variety of scenarios, including:

• Talent acquisition – creating an equitable and positive candidate experience
• Onboarding and Training – immersive training that is more emotionally engaging
• Performance Management – tailored to each employee
• Learning and Career Development – identifying skill gaps

Oscar had this to say, “Cornerstone is a platform to help people meet their strategic goals. Right now, we are seeing some workforce readiness gaps. There’s a skills gap, but there is also an expectations gap, meaning employers and potential hires aren’t on the same page when it comes to the role. And then there’s the visibility gap, which means the employee doesn’t feel seen, like they can’t see a future in that company and that definitely impacts retention.”

Due to the advancements in AI, building content is much easier now. Before AI, it could take five months to create VR content, but now it can be done in five minutes. When you put on a VR headset, you are put in a room with an AI avatar that will respond to your statements in real-time and interact with you like an advisor or supervisor would.

Oscar explained, “VR has shifted and is now more about social skills. It creates a much more emotionally impactful situation. It’s much better than manuals, videos, on the job training, or mentorship. It’s also scalable. A mentor’s time is limited and usually focused on one-on-one scenarios. Mentorship through VR is unlimited. It’s also incredibly immersive and engaging.”

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