Trust and Transparency in AI: A Roadmap for the Public Sector

Introduction: AI's Growing Role in Your Work

As a public sector employee, you're on the frontlines of America's AI transformation. From processing benefits claims to improving public safety, AI tools are changing how we serve citizens—but only if we implement them responsibly.

During a recent panel discussion with government AI leaders, California Health and Human Services CIO Adam Dandrow captured the challenge perfectly: "We're seizing AI's potential, but in a deliberate way—starting with low-risk uses while building safeguards."

This guide will help you navigate AI's opportunities and pitfalls, featuring exclusive insights from:

• Jennifer Chan, California DOJ (Justice Information Services)

• Joseph Taylor, Sacramento State (Information Systems Chair)

• Kathy Baxter, Salesforce (Ethical AI Architect)

How AI is Changing Your Agency's Work

What's Happening Now in Government:
✅ Automating Routine Tasks

• Chatbots handling common citizen inquiries (freeing you for complex cases)

• AI-assisted document processing (e.g., benefits applications)

✅ Improving Decision-Making

• Predictive analytics in child welfare and public health

• Fraud detection in tax and unemployment systems

California's Approach:
"We're following the Governor's executive order—training staff first, focusing on low-risk uses, and building guardrails before scaling." — Adam Dandrow

The Ethical Challenges You Can't Ignore

Bias in AI Systems

"AI magnifies whatever's in your data—including biases you didn't know existed." — Joseph Taylor

What You Can Do:

• Audit training data with your IT team for representativeness

• Flag biased outputs to your agency's AI review board

Protecting Citizen Privacy

"In healthcare and justice, one data leak can ruin lives. We must be extra careful." — Jennifer Chan

Action Items:
✔ Always anonymize data used for AI training
✔ Verify your agency's AI tools comply with:

• HIPAA (health data)

• CJIS standards (justice data)

• Your state's privacy laws

Adapting to AI-Driven Changes

Your Evolving Role

"AI won't replace you—but it will change your job. The key is learning to work with it." — Joseph Taylor

Examples from California Agencies:

• Social workers using AI to flag high-risk cases (but making final decisions)

• HR professionals automating resume screening (while focusing on interviews)

Getting the Training You Need

California's free resources:

1. GovOps AI Webinars (Basic to advanced skills)

2. Department of Technology's AI Playbook

3. NVIDIA Partnerships (Free courses for state employees)

Spotting and Preventing AI Risks

Red Flags Every Employee Should Know:
🚩 "Black Box" Systems

• Can't explain how decisions are made? Don't use it.

🚩 Outdated Data

• AI trained on 2010 census data? Probably biased.

🚩 No Human Oversight

• "At Salesforce, we require humans to approve all high-stakes AI decisions." — Kathy Baxter

Your Reporting Channels:

• Your supervisor

• Agency AI ethics officer (if appointed)

• State whistleblower protections

Working Together for Responsible AI

Across Agencies

"No department has all the answers. We're sharing best practices through California's AI Collaborative." — Jennifer Chan

With the Public

"We involve community groups in testing our AI tools—their feedback is invaluable." — Adam Dandrow

With Academia

"San José State students help us audit algorithms—it's a win-win." — Joseph Taylor

Conclusion: You're the Key to Ethical AI

As Kathy Baxter reminded us: "Every public servant in this room has a role to play in shaping trustworthy AI."

3 Things You Can Do Next Week:

1. Take 30 minutes for your agency's AI training

2. Review any AI tools you use for transparency features

3. Speak up if you see potential bias or privacy risks

"The best AI systems will be those built by—and for—public servants who know their communities best."

Need Help?
➔ California state employees: Visit the Department of Technology's AI Hub
➔ Federal workers: Check GSA's AI Center of Excellence
➔ All public servants: Join our free events or one of our comprehensive trainings.

What AI questions do you have about your specific role? Comment below!