A newly-issued state directive seeks to ensure the ethical, transparent use and oversight of artificial intelligence technologies in Virginia.

Executive Directive Number Five was announced by Gov. Glenn A. Youngkin last Thursday, and focuses on opportunities and protections related to generative AI and similar technologies in state-level initiatives and programs.

“The increasing use of AI, especially generative AI, offers tremendous opportunities to transform the way we serve all Virginians, from launching innovative personalized education tools to improving customer service and beyond,” Gov. Youngkin said in a statement. “At the same time, we must ensure that these AI products and technologies have appropriate standards and guardrails to protect individual privacy rights in a transparent manner.”

“Our Executive Directive tackles both: seizing the opportunities AI presents while recognizing and mitigating the risks.”

The Executive Directive calls on the Office of Regulatory Management to work with Robert Osmond, chief information officer of the Virginia Information Technologies Agency to begin finding answers to four areas of focus related to AI-legal protections, policy standards, IT safeguards, and implications for K-12 and higher education.

The Executive Directive also calls for the identification of pilot uses of the technology by state agencies to help modernize state government, how it can be used for economic growth, and an examination of its power generation requirements.