Two years ago, California’s IT efforts earned the state a solid B+ rating in the national Digital States Survey.* This year, the state cemented an A rating for its leadership in areas like artificial intelligence, broadband equity and more.
State IT officials have taken a strong leadership stance on how artificial intelligence and generative AI will fit into daily operations. Backed by an executive order signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom last September, agencies have been working to identify real-world applications and new procurement policies.
“We are testing and refining GenAI applications through a series of proofs of concept in real-world settings,” CIO Liana Bailey-Crimmins told Government Technology* via email. “Using secure sandboxes, we can experiment with these technologies in a controlled environment, allowing for innovation while ensuring compliance with ethical standards and safeguarding resident privacy … .”
The state, through its Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative, is 1,600 miles of fiber-optic cable into an effort to lay more than 8,000 miles of middle-mile fiber backbone. The ultimate goal, Bailey-Crimmins said, is to close connectivity gaps and provide more service options to underserved parts of the state.
Other states that received A rankings include Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Utah and Virginia. The full list of all 50 state rankings is available here.
*The Digital States Survey is conducted by the Center for Digital Government, part of e.Republic, the parent company of Government Technology and Industry Insider — California.
California Takes Top Ranking in National Digital States Survey
The state has been identified as one of the top leaders in the IT space, tackling such complex issues as equitable connectivity, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
Eyragon Eidam
