California Construction News staff writer
California is expanding its use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to streamline government operations and address key challenges in housing, workforce planning, and fiscal management.
The state is now inviting AI innovators to submit detailed proposals for these pilot projects. The state will evaluate submissions and select vendors to test their solutions in a secure sandbox environment. Innovators will be paid $1 to participate, allowing both the state and the companies to test and refine their ideas in a controlled setting.
The new initiative follows last month’s GenAI Innovator Showcase, where more than 30 tech companies, including Microsoft, OpenAI, Google, and Esri, presented ideas for using AI to solve public service challenges.
Three pilot projects will be launched to transform housing, labor, and budget processes.
The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) will explore using GenAI to track the creation and implementation of housing plans across the state. The goal is to improve transparency, accelerate housing development, and promote equity in housing services.
“We need to utilize all the tools at our disposal to improve the lives of all Californians,” said Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Tomiquia Moss. “By using GenAI to better track and evaluate how local jurisdictions are planning and building housing across California, we can address barriers to housing development and promote affordable housing investments in neighborhoods of opportunity.”
Learn more about this work here.
The goal is to streamline tracking of housing projects, ensuring that development plans align with state goals for affordability and geographic equity. GenAI tools could provide real-time updates on progress, identify potential bottlenecks, and offer data-driven insights to decision-makers.
Also, the California Employment Development Department (EDD), in collaboration with the State Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA), is looking for AI solutions to enhance workforce planning, especially during economic downturns.
The Department of Finance (DOF) is also exploring GenAI to help streamline the complex legislative bill analysis process.
For more information on California’s GenAI initiatives, visit GenAI.ca.gov.
