The task force was established in February by Executive Order 24-06, which also created a Center of Excellence for AI and Data. Rhode Island now joins a list of other states in which AI task forces have already been established, including Alabama, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Washington.
Its inaugural meeting Monday at the Department of Administration brought together 24 subject matter experts from various sectors to establish advisory groups and structure for the task force. Future meetings will build on the work of the first meeting, to assess and advise state policymakers on AI advancement.
Gov. Dan McKee’s executive order establishing the task force indicated members would represent the state’s public and private sectors, and announced his selection of former Congressman Jim Langevin as chair. A news release Friday identified the rest of the members appointed by McKee.
Other public-sector representatives serving on the task force include Rhode Island Department of Administration Director Jonathan Womer, Department of Labor and Training Director Matthew Weldon, Executive Office of Commerce Secretary Liz Tanner, and Executive Office of Health and Human Services Secretary Richard Charest. There’s also state Emergency Management Agency Director Marc Pappas; Department of Business Regulation Director Elizabeth Kelleher Dwyer; Department of Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green; Shannon Gilkey, commissioner, Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner; and Chief Digital Officer Brian Tardiff. Other elected officials serving include state Sen. Lou DiPalma, state Rep. Jacquelyn Baginski and North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi.
Private-sector representatives include the task force Vice Chair Christopher Parisi, who will serve as a small-business representative. Others are Michael Sabitoni, representing organized labor; Christopher Horvath of Citizens Bank, representing finance and banking; and Kenneth Jeanos of General Dynamics Electric Boat, representing defense. There’s also John Hazen White Jr., of Taco Family of Companies, for manufacturing; Michael Wagner of Care New England, representing health care; and Edmund Shallcross III of Amica Mutual Insurance Co., representing the insurance sector.
The education sector will be represented by Francis Doyle III, provost of Brown University. Addison Heffernan, who attends Bishop Hendricken High School, will serve as a student representative.
Other members include Oscar Mejias of the Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, representing the nonprofit sector, and Nina Pande of Skills for Rhode Island’s Future, representing workforce development.
“The diverse perspectives of the task force members will allow us to create a comprehensive road map that will prepare Rhode Island to implement artificial intelligence effectively and ethically,” Langevin said in a statement.