Press Release  Governor Healey Announces Massachusetts to Become First State to Deploy ChatGPT Across Executive Branch

Boston — Today, Governor Maura Healey announced the launch of the ChatGPT-powered Artificial Intelligence (AI) Assistant for the state’s workforce, with the goal of making government work better and faster for people. The AI Assistant will be implemented as a phased approach across the executive branch and will provide a safe and secure environment that protects state data. Massachusetts will be the first state to adopt the technology for the entire executive branch, which includes nearly 40,000 state employees.

“This is about making government faster, more efficient, and more effective for the people we serve,” said Governor Healey. “AI has the potential to transform how government works, which is why we’re excited to partner with OpenAI on this AI Assistant, which will ensure a safe and secure environment for employees and improve their ability to deliver better service to the people of Massachusetts. I’m grateful to Secretary Snyder and Secretary Paley for their innovative leadership on this and to the state workers who are eager to embrace this new technology.” 

“By making ChatGPT available to the state workforce, we are empowering our employees with a secure, governed tool that can enhance service delivery while maintaining the highest standards for data privacy, security, and thoughtful, transparent usage of AI,” said Secretary Snyder. “Our focus is not just adopting AI, but doing so in a way that reflects our values, and strengthens trust with the residents we serve.”

“Massachusetts is showing what leadership looks like in the AI era,” said Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley. “As the first state to launch an enterprise AI assistant across state government, we’re embracing these powerful tools to strengthen our workforce and improve how the Commonwealth serves people. Our hope is that institutions across the state will make the same commitment – to support their talent, move faster, and ensure Massachusetts continues to lead in AI innovation.” 
 

“We’re excited to be working with Massachusetts and grateful to Governor Healey for her leadership in bringing ChatGPT to the state’s workforce,” said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. “Massachusetts is helping lead a broader shift across government to help public servants spend less of their time on paperwork and more of their time doing what led them to public service in the first place: serving the people of the Commonwealth.”

Following a competitive procurement process, the state and OpenAI have agreed to a contract to deploy ChatGPT at scale across Massachusetts state government. The rollout will take a phased approach, starting with staff in the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (TSS). Additional secretariats and executive branch agencies will be onboarded over the coming months. In conjunction with the rollout, the state is offering a series of optional training programs designed to provide employees using the Enterprise AI Assistant with a baseline understanding on best practices and strategic use of the tool.  

The rollout of ChatGPT will be within a walled-off, secure environment that protects state data and ensures that employee chat inputs do not train public AI models. Use of the tool is governed by terms and conditions set by the TSS Privacy Office, and regularly updated policies that govern the use and development of AI. While other states have launched limited pilot programs for ChatGPT, Massachusetts will be the first enterprise-wide deployment of the tool.

More information on the tool, training and other Frequently Asked Questions can be found at mass.gov/ai.

“The Human Resources Division is excited about this employee-focused resource,” said Melissa Pullin, Chief Human Resources Officer. “This partnership will be able to assist state employees in the course of their work and provides a cutting-edge tool to support the Commonwealth’s workforce.”  

“The AI revolution is only just beginning, and here in Massachusetts we are positioning ourselves to be at the forefront of this paradigm shifting technology,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury), Senate Chair, Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity. “This first-in-the-nation partnership will help state employees work more efficiently within an AI model that is specifically designed with privacy and security in mind – saving taxpayers money while maintaining the confidentiality of sensitive information. I look forward to our continued partnership with EOTSS to identify new opportunities for AI-enabled technology.”

The launch of the Enterprise AI Assistant builds on the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s broader strategy to position Massachusetts as a global leader in applied AI. Through the Massachusetts AI Hub, the Administration is coordinating state support for the AI ecosystem, expanding access to critical infrastructure like compute resources, deepening partnerships with industry and research institutions, and ensuring Massachusetts remains the place where AI is developed, tested, and turned into real-world solutions across sectors like life sciences, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and health care. 

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