MONTPELIER — Gov. Phil Scott and other officials gave an update on the work of the Vermont AI Task Force at a press conference last week.
In May, he signed an executive order creating the Vermont Artificial Intelligence Economic Task Force, which is a two-year body charged to assess how artificial intelligence is reshaping the state’s economy and recommend specific actions.
“AI isn’t something that’s years away. It’s here. It’s already changing how businesses operate and the skills employers are looking for,” Scott said. “So as a result of this new technology I believe we need to do our homework, understand how it can help us while also addressing some of the challenges that come with it.”
To do this he appointed 18 Vermonters to serve on the AI Task Force, representing almost every county in the state, as well as many of the sectors likely to be most impacted by AI. These include government, healthcare, energy and education.
We may not realize it, but most of us have used AI at some point, Scott said.
“And while it can help us to be more efficient, there are also some important questions we must ask ourselves: How will AI impact Vermont’s workforce? How do we balance innovation and technology without compromising trust? And most importantly, what can we do to make sure that rural Vermont isn’t left behind?” he said. “It’s questions like these that are framing the work of the task force and subcommittees. One of our strengths is our size. We’re a small state, which means we should be nimble and collaborate more effectively to solve problems, which gives us an opportunity to lead.”
The task force is studying where AI is already impacting the state’s economy, where the biggest opportunities lie, where the state is vulnerable, and what actions the state should be taking to help workers, businesses and communities succeed.
“It’s no secret Vermont is an expensive place to live, which is why we should look at this tool and do our part to make sure Vermont can compete with other states by creating jobs, supporting employers, and building homes so working-age families will move here, and those already here can afford to stay,” Scott said. “If we approach this the right way, which I believe we are, we’ll learn a lot and be better off for the work of this group.”
Neale Lunderville, a former state official and president and CEO, Vermont Gas, is one of the chairs of the task force.
“The task force takes a people-first approach to AI. And what that means is, how do we use AI to free people up, to give them more time to do the things that humans do best, to do the things that only people can do, in their lives, in their businesses, in their communities,” he said. “This is the test as we look at all the impacts and opportunities. Are we able to give folks back time that they can have to build human relationships that make our community and our state stronger?”
He said the effort is taking a “clear eyed” view of AI, looking at impacts and seeing how to manage or mitigate them. On the other hand, the goal is to accelerate opportunities, particularly for small businesses and rural areas, to create tools that Vermonters can use in a people-first approach.
The task force has three working groups: economic acceleration, small business competitiveness, and community resilience. The last group “will be looking at how we can use AI to help our rural communities build more vibrant places.
“Again, how can we use the tools of AI to help bring time back to people in these areas and actually create more collaboration and cohesion?” Lunderville said. “When we look at all three of these working groups, small businesses and rural areas, we want to make sure we’re using AI tools to create more agency for Vermonters. … instead of letting AI have agency over us.”
Simplify state services
Denise Reilly-Hughes, secretary, Agency of Digital Services emphasized the importance of reducing government complexity for Vermonters. AI will help simplify government services, making them easier to navigate and more trustworthy. The task force will identify practical opportunities to improve state government outcomes using AI. The goal is to shift the burden of complexity from Vermonters to the government, ensuring better service delivery.
“Artificial intelligence has obviously captured the public’s attention. For me, this work is more about something that’s much bigger than technology itself. It’s about how government delivers and serves its people,” she said. “Today, too much of the complexity of government rests on Vermonters. People are expected to know which agency to call, which program they qualify for, or where to begin when they’re facing important moments in their lives.
“So, the burden of complexity actually belongs with government, not with Vermonters. That is the opportunity that we’re taking advantage of in the task force here, and that’s the opportunity before us,” she added. “AI gives us the ability to help reduce that complexity, but we have to do it intentionally, and we have to do it responsibly, and in the service of better outcomes for Vermonters.”
Member from SVMC
The task force includes Stefanie McGowan, a nurse practitioner at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center.
The other members are Brian Bradke, president and CEO, Norwich University Applied Research Institutes; Tayt Brooks, secretary, Agency of Commerce and Community Development; Rick Daniell, senior change manager, Randstad Enterprise; Kirk Dombrowski, vice president for research and economic development, University of Vermont; Matt Dunne, president and CEO, Center on Rural Innovation; Jennifer Galfetti, chief operating officer, Union Mutual; Renée Grzankowski, chief operations officer, Vermont Economic Development Authority; Lunderville; Cass Madison, executive director, Center for Civic Futures; Marc Natanagara, co-founder and executive director, aiVermont; Josiah Raiche, chief data and artificial intelligence officer, Agency of Digital Services; Reilly-Hughes; Dan Smith, president and CEO, Vermont Community Foundation; Kendal Smith, commissioner, Vermont Department of Labor; and AnGayle “AJ” Vasiliou, professor, Middlebury College.
