Pittsburgh, PA – Last week, Governor Josh Shapiro unveiled the results of Pennsylvania’s year-long, first-in-the-nation pilot with state employees using ChatGPT. The goal of the pilot was to better understand how Commonwealth employees can use cutting-edge tools like generative artificial intelligence safely and responsibly to get more done and serve more residents. Governor Shapiro also emphasized in a letter the need for proactive employee engagement in implementing generative AI tools.
Over the course of a year, 175 employees from 14 agencies used ChatGPT Enterprise. Over 85 percent reported a “somewhat positive” or “very positive” experience, despite 48 percent never using ChatGPT before the pilot. The employees reported saving an average of 95 minutes on days they used generative AI to assist with brainstorming, drafting text, simplifying complex information, and other administrative tasks.
The pilot also reinforced that generative AI is not the right tool for every job and that it requires our employees’ expertise and judgment to be used effectively.
Based on the pilot’s success, the Office of Administration is working to acquire generative AI tools and expand AI training opportunities for employees.
Joining the Governor to discuss the results of the pilot were leaders from OpenAI, Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania’s labor community, and staff from OA who administered and participated in the pilot.
- Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s Chief Global Affairs Officer: “What’s remarkable about this pilot program is that it’s the first of its kind in the nation, where a state has thoughtfully brought AI into government to empower its workforce.”
- Farnam Jahanian, President of Carnegie Mellon University: “This first-in-the-nation pilot was led by Governor Josh Shapiro, powered by talented Pennsylvanians and shaped by some of the world’s finest scientists and engineers here at Carnegie Mellon University and OpenAI. It is a remarkable collaboration and one that underscores the immense capacity and inevitable necessity of AI in helping governments operate more efficiently, effectively and responsively."
- Steve Catanese, President of SEIU Local 668: "We appreciate Governor Shapiro's leadership in ensuring workers have a voice when it comes to innovation and new technology, and his efforts in ensuring workers have the tools to succeed at work. Generative AI is exactly that – a tool. It's important that AI is used ethically, with a human hand at the wheel to ensure those risks are mitigated.”
- Harrison MacRae, Director of Emerging Technologies at OA: “These tools have empowered employees, enhancing their ability to serve Pennsylvanians. After this pilot, the Commonwealth is better prepared to navigate AI’s responsible use, and I remain committed to engaging our workforce in a human-centered way as this technology evolves."
- Commonwealth employee Kaylene Wance, an eLearning Developer at OA: “Whether it’s drafting feedback for training scenarios, restructuring content, outlining courses, or simplifying policies — generative AI has become a powerful tool in my daily workflow. It saves time and helps me focus on more complex tasks. This experience also reinforced something important: AI is a tool that enhances creativity and efficiency, but it can’t replace human expertise. It can’t replace my professional instincts, honed by years of on-the-job experience.”
See what Pennsylvanians are reading and watching about the results of the AI pilot:
- Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Gov. Josh Shapiro details findings of AI pilot program, announces Phase 2
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