Keaton PetersCalifornia is seeking innovative ideas for the implementation of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) technologies into existing government operations.
The state’s Department of General Services (DGS) and Department of Technology (CDT) are announcing requests for innovative ideas (RFI2) that will assist the state as it pursues novel GenAI solutions to resident’s most pressing challenges. At the bequest of several state agencies, the departments will field ideas that improve state-run initiatives in the finance, housing development, workforce planning and policymaking sectors.
RELATED: Georgia lawmakers issue report to guide future artificial intelligence policymaking
For California’s first initiative, finance, CDT requests industry and stakeholder solutions that integrate GenAI technologies into generally time-consuming legislative bill analyses and bill reports. On behalf of the California Department of Finance, the state will seek applicants who provide a comprehensive and feasible idea, offer an implementable, simplified solution and develop a realistic approach that identifies data gaps and contiguous future training opportunities.
By using GenAI in state finance operations, California aims to bring all relevant data together into a single, cohesive summary that can be reviewed earlier in the budget development process. This AI-powered solution would significantly reduce the time and effort needed for bill analysis, providing state officials with more timely and comprehensive insights to inform budget decisions.
The finance-oriented RFI2 will be available until Jan. 13 and can be found here. The opportunity is open to innovators, entrepreneurs, scientists, vendors and experts looking to get involved in California’s fiscal GenAI endeavors.
On request by California’s Department of Housing and Community Development, CDT and DGS will engage with AI and GenAI industry stakeholders to address the state’s housing crisis. This RFI2 regarding housing development intends to develop an AI-powered solution that can help track and streamline the implementation of housing programs and initiatives statewide.
Seeking to improve the efficiency and accuracy of housing plans, the RFI2 will automate local jurisdictions’ monitoring processes to meet housing development goals. By leveraging GenAI, the state aims to eliminate bottlenecks in the planning process and ensure that local governments have the tools they need to build homes in neighborhoods of opportunity.
Available to the same entities as the finance initiative, the housing RFI2 application period will end on Jan. 27. More information and how to apply for the program can be found here.
The final RFI2 initiative, encompassing workforce development and policymaking, will seek innovative ideas to implement novel GenAI technologies into workforce training and development initiatives and future employment forecasting.
Benefiting the California Employment Development Department, proposed solutions for the RFI2 will equip the state with the information it needs to proactively address workforce challenges. By using AI to refine statistical models and analyzing data in real-time, the state anticipates that these solutions could improve the state’s ability to predict future economic conditions, generate predictions on shifts in the labor market and identify regions that may need additional job training or unemployment benefits.
The state will encourage innovators, entrepreneurs, scientists, vendors and experts to participate in this workforce development RFI2, which ends on Feb. 3. The RFI2, including information on how to apply and voice an opinion, is available here.
Through the RFI2s, California anticipates leveraging voices from some of the world’s leading GenAI research and development institutions to combat resident’s hardships.
These GenAI implementation ideas will be tested through a unique collaboration-based procurement phase, where innovators will refine concepts through partnerships with state agencies and other developers to deploy real-world solutions.
This phase, referred to as a secure “sandbox”, will incentivize applicants with groundbreaking grants up to $1 and will provide innovators a collective space to learn, develop and partner on GenAI technologies before instituting real-world solutions.
These GenAI RFI2s will advance efforts put forth by California’s recent executive order, N-12-23, which intends to continuously foster innovative AI and GenAI technologies throughout the state in the future. Additionally, the state’s call for ideas complements real-world solutions discussed during California’s first-ever GenAI Innovator Showcase in September.
Centralizing these innovative initiatives, California is launching a dedicated website, GenAI.ca.gov, to operate as a hub for more information, updates and additional resources on the state’s comprehensive GenAI efforts.
Photo by Pixabay
