Pennsylvania Expands AI Access to 3,000 State Employees
Pennsylvania has extended generative AI tools to more than 3,000 state employees across 35 agencies, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Wednesday. The expansion follows a successful year-long pilot program that wrapped in May 2025.
The rollout fulfills Shapiro's 2023 executive order directing state agencies to adopt generative AI. A January 2024 order launched a pilot using ChatGPT Enterprise, making Pennsylvania the first state to test the tool with its workforce.
Measurable Gains From the Pilot
The pilot showed employees saved an average of eight hours per week. Shapiro described the tool as a "job enhancer" that freed staff to focus on more complex work.
New use cases emerged during testing:
- Drafting communications
- Summarizing materials
- Conducting research
- Brainstorming
Real-World Applications for HR and Services
The state's human resources office used AI to analyze and evaluate more than 3,600 job descriptions and classifications for accuracy. The work helped the state fill dozens of critical vacancies.
The human services department deployed AI since October to process documents with image quality issues. Instead of asking caseworkers to decipher poor scans or requesting clients resubmit materials, the system handles the task automatically.
The Board of Pardons uses AI to transfer information from handwritten clemency applications into its online tracking system, reducing manual data entry.
Training Requirements in Place
An additional 6,500 employees are enrolled in training through InnovateUS on safe and responsible AI use. Completion is required before staff can use the tools in their work.
Neil Weaver, secretary of administration, said the expansion reflects lessons from the pilot. "Our early pilot showed what's possible when innovation is supported by strong governance and thoughtful implementation," Weaver said in a statement.
For HR professionals implementing AI in your organizations, the AI Learning Path for CHROs covers workforce analytics, recruitment automation, and talent management - areas Pennsylvania's HR team is already using the technology to address.
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