Seven States Lead Government AI Adoption, Report Finds
Code for America released its second annual assessment of state AI use on May 1, evaluating how states are deploying artificial intelligence in public services. The nonprofit found that Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Vermont are ahead of their peers in operationalizing AI systems.
The report tracks states across four stages of AI adoption: readiness, piloting, implementation, and impact measurement. Most states remain in the earlier phases, but the seven leading states have moved further along by establishing executive leadership, building data infrastructure, and running controlled experiments.
What the Leading States Are Doing
Maryland partnered with Anthropic to deploy an AI agent helping residents apply for benefits. New Jersey expanded its AI assistant with tools to validate documents and analyze resident feedback at scale. North Carolina's Government Data Analytics Center uses generative AI to summarize documents for government workers.
Pennsylvania scaled an AI system to scan documents for legibility during benefit applications, reducing caseworker burden. Texas published a governance framework and is improving data quality across agencies. Utah launched a regulated chatbot pilot to accelerate prescription renewals. Vermont created a public inventory of AI tools in use across state agencies.
The Broader Trend
States are moving AI from one-time modernization projects to ongoing institutional work spanning multiple agencies. However, most states struggle with the final stage: measuring long-term impact of their AI systems.
Amanda Renteria, CEO of Code for America, said the opportunity extends beyond adopting new technology. "When states lead with a human-centered mindset grounded in real outcomes for communities, they will define the future of public service in the AI era," she said.
The nonprofit conducted the assessment by reviewing executive orders, legislation, agency reports, and media coverage, then offered each state a chance to review findings before publication.
Code for America's Track Record
In 2025, Code for America worked across 27 states and Washington, D.C. to help 7 million people access $22 billion in benefits through safety net, criminal justice, and tax systems.
For government professionals looking to understand AI adoption in their agencies, resources like AI for Government and the AI Learning Path for Policy Makers offer targeted guidance on governance, policy analysis, and implementation strategies.
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