California has released fundamental and technical generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) training for state employees. The new training is the result of California Gov. Gavin Newsom signing the Executive Order (EO) on Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in 2023.
As part of the EO, the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) was tasked with developing a training program for state employees. The new training will introduce core GenAI concepts and curriculum to the general state workforce and provide a foundation for how the technology may safely, ethically, and equitably function in the workplace. CalHR noted that the training will be continually updated with further content enhancements and incorporate ongoing feedback from the state’s workforce.
“It is an exciting time because the state is embracing GenAI to help bolster the capabilities of state workers,” said CalHR Director Eraina Ortega. “We want our workforce to be prepared to lead into the future. The new training materials will provide information and development opportunities to employees to best serve Californians.”
The state explained that the training materials will focus on the awareness of potential privacy, security, and legal considerations while ensuring the state workforce is well-skilled and prepared for GenAI and the opportunities to serve the state in a safe, secure, and equitable way going forward. It will be tailored to three different audiences: the general workforce, business leaders, and technology experts.
When developing the training, CalHR collaborated with the California Office of Data and Innovation (ODI), the California Department of Technology (CDT), and the Labor and Workforce Development Agency. State employees, employee representative groups, academic and industry stakeholders, internal GenAI-related work groups, and employee advocacy groups were also invited to provide feedback prior to the release of the training.
“This collaborative effort to upskill our staff is empowering our state’s workforce with a new set of tools designed to drive more effective and equitable outcomes, while providing the high level of customer experience that Californians have come to expect of their government,” said ODI Director Jeffery Marino. “California is truly embarking on a transformative process.”
