Gov. Tony Evers today signed Executive Order No. 211, creating the Governor’s Task Force on Workforce and Artificial Intelligence, according to a press release. The move comes as Evers announced earlier this month he is calling a special session of the Wisconsin State Legislature to take up his comprehensive plan to address the state’s long-standing workforce challenges.
AI systems being produced today can learn from data without being explicitly programmed, create new content, predict future outcomes, and have the potential to reshape entire labor markets. The technology is increasingly being used in a range of industries important to Wisconsin, including manufacturing, health care, education, transportation, agriculture, and more, yet, due to the novelty of the technology that is being developed and implemented, many Americans are apprehensive of this emerging technology. A 2023 Forbes survey reported that more than 75% of consumers are “concerned with misinformation from artificial intelligence tools.”
The Governor’s Task Force on Workforce and Artificial Intelligence will help ensure that Wisconsin remains competitive by establishing best practices for the implementation and utilization of AI technologies and identifying potential impacts of AI across industries, occupations, and skill sets with an eye toward greater equity and economic opportunity so all workers, employers, and job seekers in Wisconsin have the opportunity to benefit.
The Governor’s Task Force on Workforce and Artificial Intelligence will be administered by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development and will be chaired by DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek or a designee. The governor will appoint additional members to serve on the Task Force, including Wisconsin Department of Administration Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld or a designee, Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes or a designee, representatives from the University of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Technical College Systems, and other individuals who may include representatives from state and local government, the business community, educational institutions, organized labor, the technology sector, and more.
