Candace BarnetteCalifornia has enlisted Silicon Valley executives to help redesign how state agencies operate under a new efficiency initiative launched by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The California Breakthrough Project (CBP) will pair state agencies with top tech executives to guide efforts and streamline government operations.
The announcement builds on a previous executive order from April, announcing three agreements with various tech companies to use Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in state operations. These agreements focused on improving state highway congestion, safety and customer service.
The CBP held its first meeting in June at Ripple headquarters in California. The group will work with state leaders and front-line workers to identify inefficiencies and develop plans for moving forward.
Current efforts include enhancements to existing programs like the Request for Innovative Ideas (RFI2), which expedites the procurement process for new technologies, and the recently launched State Digital Assistance AI Tool. The AI tool has been piloted across eight state departments.
New initiatives include the Innovation Fellows Program, a cross-agency collaboration designed to solve statewide issues faster by improving communication between departments. California will also expand the Engaged California platform, which launched after a series of devastating wildfires. The online tool connects residents to their leaders by allowing them to voice concerns. This allows leaders to gather and generate new ideas for efficiency, safety and innovation.
Four state agencies are participating in the CBP with tech leaders: the Department of Human Resources (CalHR), Department of General Services (DGS), California Department of Technology (CDT) and the State Personnel Board (SPB).
CalHR will modernize hiring processes and workforce development strategies, while DGS will streamline procurement methods and vendor management. CDT is leading digital transformation initiatives like adding GenAI copilots to state agency computers and improving the State Digital Assistance AI tool. SPB efforts will focus on reforming civil service procedures and improving performance management techniques.
The CBP includes notable tech leaders and companies serving as advisory partners:
- Ron Conway, founder of SV Angel, a prominent Silicon Valley venture capital firm known for early investments in major tech companies.
- Chris Larsen, executive chair of Ripple, the blockchain and cryptocurrency company
- Jeff Lawson, co-founder and former CEO of Twilio, the cloud communications platform company.
- Jen Pahlka, author of “Recoding America” and former U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer under the Obama administration.
- Jason Wheeler, former chief financial officer of Tesla.
- Asheesh Birla, investor and former executive at Ripple and Visa.
- Representatives from AME Cloud Ventures, Anduril, Coinbase, Instacart, MoonPay, Scopely and Snap Inc.
Executive Order N-30-25, signed July 15, directs every state agency to implement efficiency measures and create new initiatives engaging the entire state workforce. The Government Operations Agency will coordinate efforts across departments to improve operational effectiveness and enhance customer experience. Tech leaders will continue working in regular sessions with agency leadership and front-line employees to identify systemic inefficiencies and propose technology-driven solutions.
The state anticipates completing its second round of GenAI projects by the end of summer 2025, focusing on housing, workforce planning and legislative bill analysis.
Photo by Zetong Li from Pexels
