Key Takeaways
- Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly shaping everyday life in Massachusetts, affecting how residents access public services, learn, and make decisions.
- A cross-sector roundtable will be held at the Massachusetts State House to discuss how to advance AI innovation while maintaining trust, transparency, and human judgment.
- The roundtable will bring together leaders from government, business, civil liberties, and higher education to explore responsible leadership in AI adoption.
- The discussion will focus on topics such as transparency in AI use, human oversight, accountability, and cross-sector collaboration.
- The goal of the roundtable is to create a shared understanding and build trust in AI adoption, rather than advancing specific policy proposals.
Introduction to AI in Massachusetts
Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concern, but a present reality that is already shaping how residents access public services, how students learn, how employers hire, and how institutions make decisions that affect people’s lives. As Senator Michael O. Moore notes, "As artificial intelligence becomes more embedded in how people experience government, education, and opportunity, it’s essential that policymakers listen carefully to those building, using, and studying these technologies." This is why a cross-sector roundtable will be held at the Massachusetts State House to explore how innovation in artificial intelligence can continue to advance while trust, transparency, and human judgment remain at the center.
The Importance of the Conversation
The roundtable is a timely and pressing discussion that brings together leaders from government, business, civil liberties, and higher education to engage in a focused, good-faith dialogue about how AI is showing up in everyday life across the Commonwealth. As federal guidance on artificial intelligence continues to evolve, states are increasingly responsible for how these technologies are implemented in practice. Massachusetts has long paired innovation with public purpose, serving as a national leader in education, research, and technology-driven growth. This roundtable reflects that tradition by bringing together perspectives that do not often sit in the same room with the goal of building shared understanding before positions harden and policy paths are defined.
The Role of Human Edge
The roundtable is convened in partnership with Human Edge, a collaborative initiative founded by Strategic Growth & Innovation, LLC, that connects higher education, industry, and civic leaders around responsible and human-centered AI adoption. According to Shauna Conway, Founder of Human Edge and Strategic Growth & Innovation, "Ethics and innovation are often framed as being in tension, but in practice they are deeply connected. When people understand how AI is used and why decisions are made, trust grows. This conversation is about bringing leaders together across sectors to explore how Massachusetts can continue to lead with both innovation and integrity." Human Edge plays a crucial role in facilitating this conversation and bringing together leaders from different sectors to explore the responsible adoption of AI.
The Roundtable Participants
The roundtable will bring together participants from five sectors with distinct responsibilities as AI becomes more embedded in daily life. These participants include Elizabeth Mahoney, Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs, Massachusetts High Technology Council; Gideon Epstein, Technology for Liberty Policy Counsel, ACLU of Massachusetts; Yunus Telliel, Assistant Professor, Humanities and Arts Department, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Secretary Jason Snyder, Executive Office of Technology Services and Security, Commonwealth CIO; and Tepring Piquado, Chief Executive Officer, National Science Policy Network. These participants will engage in a facilitated dialogue focused on listening, learning, and surfacing shared principles, including transparency in AI use, human oversight in high-impact decisions, accountability aligned with existing laws, and cross-sector collaboration to sustain public trust.
The Approach and Looking Ahead
Rather than advancing specific policy proposals, the roundtable is designed as a facilitated dialogue focused on listening, learning, and surfacing shared principles. The discussion will be framed and moderated by Conway, who brings more than two decades of experience at the intersection of technology strategy, governance, and implementation across public and private organizations. Following the session, a summary brief capturing key themes and insights will be shared with participants and the Senator’s office to support continued dialogue and future consideration. This roundtable is intended as a starting point, not a conclusion, as Massachusetts’ leadership in artificial intelligence continues to evolve through thoughtful dialogue, principled experimentation, and shared responsibility.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the cross-sector roundtable at the Massachusetts State House is a crucial step in exploring how to advance AI innovation while maintaining trust, transparency, and human judgment. As AI continues to shape everyday life in Massachusetts, it is essential that leaders from different sectors come together to discuss responsible leadership in AI adoption. The roundtable’s focus on transparency, human oversight, accountability, and cross-sector collaboration will help build a shared understanding and trust in AI adoption, ensuring that Massachusetts continues to lead with both innovation and integrity. As Senator Moore notes, "This roundtable is about creating space for that dialogue, so innovation continues in ways the public can understand and trust."
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/massachusetts-leaders-convene-cross-sector-144500268.html
