On February 21, 2025, public sector leaders, policymakers, and AI experts gathered at the UConn Hartford Times Building for the Public Service Executive Leadership Collaborative’s (PSELC) workshop on Developing AI Policy & Implementation in the Public Sector. The event focused on AI’s role in government, policy development, and ethical considerations.
Opening remarks by Mark Raymond, Connecticut’s Chief Information Officer, emphasized AI’s rapid evolution and the need for responsible policies. State Senator James Maroney outlined Connecticut’s legislative efforts, highlighting consumer data protection and AI governance.
Discussions covered key AI policy topics. Senator Maroney led a session on AI literacy, stressing the importance of understanding AI’s capabilities and limitations. A session led by Adriana Sanchez-Dominicci on AI bias examined real-world cases of unintended consequences in law enforcement, hiring, and public benefits, with strategies for mitigation through transparency and human oversight.
Thomas Armstrong, Director of Strategy & Enterprise Architecture at DAS discussed the importance of tracking AI systems for public accountability. Scott Gaul, Chief Data Officer at the Connecticut Office of Policy & Management, covered data governance, privacy, and security in AI policy.
The workshop concluded with a discussion on AI risk assessment, exploring AI applications in government, data privacy concerns, and human oversight. Participants gained actionable insights on developing AI policies that balance innovation with responsibility.
Written by Laurence Spekterman
