Responsible AI in Washington State

Description

The rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform government business processes, changing how state employees perform their work and ultimately improving government efficiency. These technologies also pose new and challenging considerations for implementation. State Chief Privacy Officer Katy Ruckle will share how Washington state is preparing for the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence. 

Speakers

Katy Ruckle
State Chief Privacy Officer
WaTech

Katy Ruckle was appointed as Washington state's Chief Privacy Officer in 2020.  Since then, Katy has published Washington's foundational privacy principles and launched statewide training on privacy and data protection for public employees.  In 2023, Katy received the  Governor’s Outstanding Leadership Award for her privacy leadership in the state. In 2024, Katy earned two national leadership awards: GovTech’s Top 25 Doer, Dreamer, and Drivers, StateScoop’s Top 50, and was named one of the nation’s AI 50 honorees by the Center for Public Sector AI. Currently, Katy serves as co-chair to the State’s AI Community of Practice and published guidance for public procurement of automated decision systems.  Katy is also leading work on the Governor’s Executive Order on AI and serves as the appointed representative from WaTech on the AGO AI Task Force.

In previous roles, Katy created and directed the privacy program at the state's Department of Social and Health Services -- overseeing public records, records management, legal discovery, and HIPAA compliance. Before that she served as the agency’s Contracts Counsel, advising on complex contract and procurement issues regarding health care and technology.

Katy is a licensed attorney and was admitted to the Washington State Bar Association in 2005.  She also holds certifications from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) in US privacy law (CIPP/US) and privacy program management (CIPM) and is recognized as a Fellow of Information Privacy from the IAPP.  She presently serves as an officer on the board of the Washington Government Lawyers Bar Association and volunteers as a mediator at the Pierce County Center for Dialog and Resolution. She has worked for Washington state since 2006.

To learn more about what Katy and the Office of Privacy and Data Protection are up to you can subscribe to her Privacy Points blog by signing up for the Privacy Community.