State chief information officers (CIOs) recognize the transformative potential of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to reduce administrative burden, improve citizen access and empower frontline workers, yet adoption remains cautious and uneven. Most efforts are still in the early stages, often limited to internal use cases or isolated pilots. While the vision for GenAI in government is bold, leaders must navigate a landscape of limited budgets, complex stakeholder needs and widespread public skepticism.
Based on a survey of 48 state CIOs (conducted by NASCIO and Accenture) in addition to insights from a parallel public service experience survey of 300 US government workers and 1,000 US citizens (conducted by Accenture), we explore the current state of GenAI adoption today for state government services. Additionally, we examine the challenges state CIOs face in scaling GenAI and how their views align and where they diverge with those held by government workers and consumers.
Finally, through our own experience and interviews with 15 state CIOs, we provide lessons learned and actionable advice for a path forward.
