Executive Order  No. 629: Establishing an Artificial Intelligence Strategic Task Force

WHEREAS, Massachusetts leads the nation in achieving prosperity through scientific discovery and technological innovation;

WHEREAS, Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) is a transformative technology that is likely to impact many aspects of work across many sectors of the economy;         

WHEREAS, Massachusetts can be a global leader in the effective and responsible use of AI;

WHEREAS, the state must empower its people, business community, and its many industries by studying, assessing, and navigating through the changes caused by AI and the opportunities this technology presents to make our state a place where everyone can succeed;

WHEREAS, the Executive Office of Economic Development (“EOED”) is actively advancing a new economic development strategy that strives to make Massachusetts the best place for talent and businesses, including by lengthening the state’s lead in key sectors;

WHEREAS, the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (“EOTSS”) is charged by Chapter 7D of the General Laws with supervising all executive department activities related to information technology, including digital services and information;

WHEREAS, EOTSS and EOED are committed to exploring and studying the current state of AI, its capabilities, potential applications, and associated risks for the state;

WHEREAS, input and feedback from leaders, experts, and other stakeholders outside of the executive branch will help to better inform the development of strategies to ensure that AI will benefit the state.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Maura T. Healey, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution, Part 2, c. 2, § I, Art. I, do hereby order as follows:

Section 1. Rescission of Executive Order 628

Executive Order No. 628 is rescinded effective immediately. 

Section 2. Definitions

“Artificial Intelligence,” as used in this Order, is a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or decisions.

“Generative Artificial Intelligence” (“GenAI”) as used in this Order, is a type of artificial intelligence technology that can generate many forms of content including but not limited to texts, images, and multimedia.

Section 3. Establishment of AI Strategic Task Force

The AI Strategic Task Force is hereby established in the Office of the Governor to study AI and GenAI technology and its impact on the state, including with respect to its employees, constituents, private business, and higher education institutions; to conduct outreach and collect input from stakeholders and experts; and to advise the Governor about how the Governor and executive branch can achieve the objectives of this Order.

The AI Strategic Task Force shall consist of persons representing members of the business community, higher education institutions, organized labor, and state and local government. The AI Strategic Task Force shall be led by the Secretary of EOED and the Secretary of EOTSS, with the assistance of two Advisory Co-Chairs selected by the Secretaries from the Task Force membership.  The Task Force shall further be comprised of 1 member from a designation by the Senate President; 1 member from a designation by the Speaker of the House; and at least 22 additional members appointed by the Governor including (1) a representative provided by the City of Boston; (2) a representative from members or employees of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative; (3) a representative of organized labor; and (4) other individuals with experience in sectors such as technology, life sciences, healthcare, finance, higher education, and local government and with knowledge of the applications of AI and GenAI.  Members so appointed shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor, in an advisory capacity and without compensation, and are not intended to perform services for any state agency.

The Task Force shall meet at least every other month, or more frequently as determined by the Secretaries.

Section 4. Objectives

The objectives of the AI Strategic Task Force shall be to advise the Governor in ensuring that Massachusetts is a leader in AI research and development by:

1. Identifying opportunities for collaboration around AI development and adoption with a focus on leading industries in Massachusetts, such as life sciences, healthcare, finance, and higher education institutions, including by considering the feasibility of establishing a center of excellence for AI;
2. Recommending strategies to facilitate public investment in AI opportunities and ways to otherwise support the establishment of AI-focused start-ups in Massachusetts;
3. Recommending strategies for promoting AI-related job creation and retention for the state, including assessing workforce impacts of AI technology and needs for associated workforce training;
4. Recommending new policies, guidelines, or frameworks that promote responsible AI development and use for the state, such as ethical and legal implications of AI, including issues related to biases, equity, privacy, security, and the potential misuse of AI-generated contents; and
5. Identifying ways for executive branch agencies to better achieve their missions through the adoption of AI.

Section 5. Subcommittees

The Secretaries may convene subcommittees as needed, which may be comprised of members of the Task Force and non-members committed to addressing issues of AI. All sub-committees shall be chaired by a member of the Task Force, as designated by the Secretaries.  Sub-committees shall meet from time to time, as scheduled by the Secretaries or the sub-committee chair.

Section 6. Outcomes

The AI Strategic Task Force shall provide a written report to the Governor which shall summarize the AI Strategic Task Force’s work, including summarizing input received from stakeholders and experts, and provide recommendations regarding each of its objectives.

Section 7. Effective Date

This Executive Order shall take effect immediately and shall continue in effect until 30 days after the Task Force has delivered to the Governor its written report.