The Mississippi Department of Internet Technology Services will evaluate how state agencies use or plan to use artificial intelligence and will create policy recommendations for using AI in the public and private sectors under an executive order Gov. Tate Reeves issued on Wednesday.
AI policy recommendations must be fair, innovative, secure, safe, transparent, accountable, accessible, valid, reliable and provide privacy, Executive Order 1584 says.
“AI isn’t going anywhere anytime soon,” Reeves said in a statement on Wednesday. “There are a lot of benefits and risks associated with this technology, and that’s why Mississippi needs to continue preparing for its eventual widespread adoption. This executive order will help to bring together stakeholders, as well as better protect Mississippians’ privacy, security and rights. We’ll continue using innovative technology to modernize state government and make it more efficient.”
The order requires state agencies to cooperate with ITS’s examination of AI practices. Agencies must designate a staff member to lead the AI coordination efforts under the order.
“By fostering collaboration among state agencies, industry experts and stakeholders, we are ensuring that AI is implemented ethically, securely and in a way that builds trust while delivering meaningful improvements for all Mississippians,” Executive Director and State Chief Information Officer for ITS Craig Orgeron said at a Jan. 8 press conference at the Walter Sillers Building in Jackson.
Artificial intelligence and generative AI are defined in the order and collectively referred to as AI. It says AI is a “machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations or decisions influencing real or virtual environments.”
“Artificial intelligence systems use machine and human-based inputs to perceive real and virtual environments; abstract such perceptions into models through analysis in an automated manner; and use model inference to formulate options for information or action,” the order continues.
Reeves said he wanted to address AI use in Mississippi as its popularity continues to soar. His executive order is the first legal action regarding AI in the state.
“This executive order positions Mississippi as a leader in AI innovation. By embracing AI, we can attract businesses, enhance state services, and prepare our workforce for future opportunities. AI is a tool for today’s challenges, and Mississippi is ready to lead in this technological era, benefiting our communities and economy,” Mississippi Senate Technology Committee Chairman Sen. Bart Williams, R-Starkville, said.
The governor’s order comes almost a year after a bill failed that would have created an education AI task force to find ways for the government to use AI and create policy guidelines.
Last year, the Mississippi Legislature also failed to pass two additional bills that would have regulated AI usage in political campaign advertisements. But using AI to “wrongfully disseminate” deepfakes, or altering images or videos of people to depict them engaging in speech or actions the person did not commit, is now illegal under a law the governor signed in 2024.
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This story was originally published by Mississippi Free Press and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.
