California Launches Search for AI Experts to Power New State Staff Academy Module
California is moving aggressively to equip its public workforce with the skills needed to govern and deploy artificial intelligence, issuing a call for experts to design and teach a dedicated AI module within a new statewide training initiative.
The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) and the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) are jointly launching the State Staff Academy on Emerging Technologies, with artificial intelligence as a featured module. The partnership targets upskilling of state employees, focusing on practical implementation, ethical governance, procurement strategies, and the policy implications of AI systems in government.
Building a Government-Ready AI Curriculum
The academy is being built from the ground up, and the immediate priority is recruiting subject-matter experts who can shape the AI curriculum. The GO-Biz and CCST partnership reflects a deliberate effort to bridge technical expertise with the state’s economic and workforce development goals, ensuring that the training is not theoretical but grounded in the real-world needs of California’s public agencies.
The AI module is expected to cover a broad spectrum: from fundamentals of machine learning and generative AI to responsible use frameworks, bias mitigation, data privacy, and the mechanics of procurement and implementation within state departments. The academy aims to move beyond basic awareness and give state staff the tools to evaluate, adopt, and regulate AI technologies effectively.
A Workforce Strategy for the AI Era
This initiative arrives amid a flurry of state-level AI activity. California has positioned itself at the forefront of AI regulation and readiness, most notably through an executive order on generative AI and ongoing rulemaking efforts. The State Staff Academy aligns with that broader push by addressing a critical gap: the ability of government employees to navigate a landscape where AI is increasingly embedded in public services and decision-making.
Rather than targeting the general public, the academy zeroes in on state staff—the planners, procurement officers, policy analysts, and agency leaders who will determine how AI tools are deployed across everything from health and human services to transportation and environmental protection. By training these insiders, the program aims to create a distributed network of AI-literate professionals who can champion responsible adoption within their own agencies.
The call for experts signals that the academy is still in its formative stage and that outside technical, legal, and policy perspectives are being actively sought. Interested specialists are encouraged to bring experience that spans academia, industry, and the public sector, underscoring the collaborative design of the program.
As states worldwide grapple with how to harness AI safely and effectively, California’s model—pairing a science-policy nonprofit with a business development office to train government staff—could become a blueprint for public-sector modernization. The immediate test will be whether enough deep expertise can be mobilized quickly to turn the AI module into a practical, enduring resource for thousands of state employees.
