The Rockefeller Foundation and the Center for Civic Futures (CCF) have launched the AI Readiness Project, a national initiative designed to help U.S. governments build the capacity, confidence, and shared infrastructure needed to use artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly in public service. This effort aims to equip state, territorial, and Tribal governments with the knowledge, networks, and tools to make informed decisions about AI integration, addressing challenges such as limited resources and fragmented peer networks.
As AI increasingly shapes how governments deliver services, manage data, and interact with residents, public officials face complex decisions about responsible adoption. The AI Readiness Project expands CCF’s State Chief AI Officer Community of Practice, providing a trusted, nonpartisan space where leaders collaborate, share lessons, and co-develop guidance on AI implementation while maintaining public trust at the center.
With support from The Rockefeller Foundation, the initiative will extend its reach to all 50 U.S. states, territories, and Tribal Nations, offering structured pilots, workshops, and convenings to test responsible AI applications. These pilots will allow governments to experiment with AI in low-risk settings, evaluate outcomes, and share lessons across jurisdictions. The project will also launch the first-ever Government AI Knowledge Hub in 2026, a public repository of frameworks, case studies, and practical tools to support governments at every stage of AI readiness.
The project includes ongoing working groups and cross-state exchanges, focusing on agentic AI, workforce impacts, and evaluation and monitoring. These groups will develop guardrails, policy guidance, and shared evaluation frameworks to mitigate bias, strengthen accountability, and support safe AI adoption. The initiative emphasizes collaboration, enabling leaders across political lines to share knowledge, coordinate, and implement AI effectively in public systems.
The AI Readiness Project builds on CCF’s prior work convening state, territorial, and Tribal leaders, including collaborations with the National Governors Association and Health and Human Services officials. The Rockefeller Foundation’s longstanding commitment to leveraging technological innovations supports the initiative, with prior investments in AI and data-driven solutions that have strengthened public infrastructure, health, and economic development in the U.S. and globally.
Through this initiative, states, territories, and Tribal Nations will gain access to practical guidance, shared infrastructure, and a collaborative network, ensuring that AI enhances government performance, improves public services, and strengthens trust between citizens and the systems that serve them.
