Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announced that the state's pilot program utilizing ChatGPT has significantly enhanced employee efficiency, saving an average of eight hours per week.

The pilot program has received positive feedback from 85% of participants, many of whom were new to generative AI, highlighting its effectiveness in improving workflows.

This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance productivity and efficiency within state government operations, showcasing substantial time savings and operational improvements.

Key findings from the pilot included significant time savings, improved efficiency in hiring and procurement processes, and the necessity of training for successful AI integration.

Launched in January 2024, the program involved 175 employees from 14 state agencies, who reported an impressive average time savings of 95 minutes per day while using ChatGPT for various tasks.

The initiative is set to officially expand on June 1, 2025, focusing on improving employee efficiency and service delivery to citizens, rather than replacing human jobs.

Governor Shapiro emphasized that AI is intended to augment human capabilities, not replace workers, aiming to enhance the overall employee experience.

Labor leaders, including SEIU Local 668 President Steve Catanese, have praised the initiative for prioritizing employee input in the integration of AI tools.

Notably, this program marks the first official collaboration between a U.S. state and OpenAI, with local governments globally beginning to integrate AI for various services.

The pilot program demonstrated the potential of AI to enhance government efficiency while underscoring the importance of human oversight in its application.

Phase Two of the program will commence on June 1, expanding AI usage among more employees and introducing additional generative AI tools.

As the program progresses, future steps will include expanding AI training opportunities and ensuring ongoing governance of AI use within Pennsylvania's government.