Government's AI Challenge Lies in Adoption, Not Regulation
The article argues that the U.S. is concentrating on whether to speed up or restrict artificial intelligence while overlooking how government actually adopts existing tools. It points to research showing limited and fragmented AI use by states and a legislative focus on regulation rather than implementation. The author calls for building public-sector capacity to deploy AI in services such as motor vehicle offices, schools, and benefits agencies.
The piece contends that while Washington debates whether to accelerate or pause AI, it neglects how government agencies actually take up existing tools. Two years of RethinkAI research reportedly found avoidance and scattered trials rather than coordinated adoption.
State legislatures have introduced over 1,600 AI-related bills since 2019, yet 77 percent target restrictions or audits, according to the article. A 2026 Code for America review of all states and D.C. found experimentation growing but deployments narrow and evaluation rare. China’s “AI Plus” plan aims for more than 70 percent adoption of AI devices and agents next year. Pennsylvania ran a yearlong trial of generative AI involving its workforce, protections, and results review.
If governments improve adoption capacity, residents interacting with motor vehicle offices, schools, and benefits agencies may see faster, more consistent services, while frontline staff could gain tools and training. But without evaluation and accountability, AI-assisted decisions about benefits, permits, or school placements could deepen distrust, especially for people relying on public services. The story may shift some attention from regulation debates toward implementation, though its influence depends on whether agencies and lawmakers act.