The Missing AI Skill That's Hindering Government Innovation
State technology leaders gathered at the NASCIO Midyear Conference in Philadelphia recently exposed a significant skills gap that's slowing the progress of AI adoption in government: prompt engineering. This gap is driving efforts to train and upskill public sector employees to make better use of artificial intelligence tools.
The rise of generative AI has created two camps: those enthusiastic about its capabilities and those skeptical, feeling the technology doesn’t live up to the hype. At the heart of this divide lies a simple but critical factor — the quality of the prompt given to AI models.
What Is Prompt Engineering?
Prompt engineering is the craft of creating clear, detailed, and precise instructions that guide AI models to produce useful and relevant outputs. Simple or vague prompts often result in poor or irrelevant responses, sometimes called “AI slop.” On the other hand, well-constructed prompts provide important context, specify tone, and set clear expectations, which dramatically improve AI performance.
For government agencies, the challenge is training a largely non-technical workforce to become proficient in this skill. A skilled prompt engineer can ensure AI tools deliver results that align with policy goals and operational needs.
Lessons From Early AI Pilots
Several states have completed initial AI pilots and are learning that success depends heavily on people knowing how to interact effectively with AI. In Pennsylvania, a year-long pilot involving 175 employees across 14 agencies used ChatGPT Enterprise. The feedback was encouraging, with over 85% of participants reporting positive experiences. But the pilot also confirmed that effective use of generative AI requires human expertise and judgment.
Harrison MacRae, director of emerging technologies at Pennsylvania’s Office of Administration, explained, “There’s just a learning curve of learning how to prompt and interact with something new. We experimented with different training approaches to help people succeed. Moving forward, addressing those early barriers is essential for any AI tool adoption.”
Building a Workforce Skilled in AI Interaction
Jennifer Lorenz, executive deputy chief information officer for New York’s Office of Information Technology Services, echoed the need for prompt engineering skills. She pointed out that better context in queries leads to better AI results — assuming the data behind the AI is accurate.
Looking ahead, Lorenz believes prompt engineering training will be necessary only for a limited time. She sees younger generations, who are already accustomed to AI tools in everyday life, naturally acquiring these skills. “The people in school now are learning this as part of their daily lives, so the need for formal programs may decline over the next decade,” she said.
Next Steps for Government Teams
- Recognize prompt engineering as a core AI skill for public employees.
- Develop training programs that focus on crafting effective AI prompts.
- Encourage experimentation and sharing of best practices within agencies.
- Combine AI tools with employee expertise to maximize benefits.
For government workers looking to build prompt engineering skills, exploring specialized courses can be a smart move. Resources like Complete AI Training’s prompt engineering courses offer practical guidance and hands-on learning tailored to AI interaction.
As AI continues to integrate into government operations, developing a workforce fluent in prompt engineering will be key to unlocking its practical value and driving innovation in public service.
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