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Gov. Tate Reeves has released the Mississippi Statewide AI Framework, a document that outlines the state’s priorities with artificial intelligence and provides guidance to help Mississippians of all ages learn about and prepare for the AI economy.
The document focuses on four priorities and 11 skills centered around AI literacy and accessibility, ethical use, privacy and workforce readiness in alignment with other state efforts. It provides a sweeping overview for AI skills and understanding for those from elementary school age to people well into their careers.
Citing AI’s rapid evolution, the document says, “it is not legislation, a requirement or a mandate. Rather, it serves as a strategic point of alignment and leadership-oriented guide.” It says the document will be updated as technology develops.
“This is about more than technology — it’s about people,” said Courtney Taylor, executive director of AccelerateMS, the state’s workforce development office.
The 27-page document was created by the AI Workforce Readiness Council along with AccelerateMS and the Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network, or MAIN. The council was established last year as part of the Mississippi AI Talent Accelerator Program, which also gave out over $9 million in grants to Mississippi colleges and universities to expand their AI education programs.
Statewide, Mississippi departments and legislators are already exploring how to use AI and what policies are needed to regulate it. Last year, the Mississippi Department of Education launched a pilot program for teachers to use AI to help with lesson planning and the Department of Information Technology Services issued guidance on AI use in state government.
With the growing adoption of AI and concerns about safety, all 50 states have introduced legislation over the last few years on issues including education and criminal use of AI.
During the recent session, the Mississippi Legislature passed a bill defining AI and considered another that would have created more protections for Mississippians from AI misuse. The state already has laws around using deepfakes in political campaigns and classifying AI images of children as child exploitation.
