Washington's AI Strategy and Roadmap

Serving Washington with human-focused, trusted AI 

Artificial intelligence can help Washington state improve public services, strengthen government operations, support employees, and deliver better outcomes for residents, businesses, and communities. Washington’s AI Strategy and Roadmap provides a statewide approach for adopting AI responsibly, keeping people, accountability, equity, security, and public trust at the center.  

What is it? 

Washington’s AI Strategy and Roadmap establishes the statewide direction for adopting, governing, and scaling artificial intelligence across state government. 

The strategy turns the priorities of Washington’s IT Strategic Plan and Artificial Intelligence Policy into three strategic goals, four supporting workstreams, and an 18-month roadmap. It gives agencies a shared framework for coordinating investments, reducing barriers to adoption, and moving promising AI projects from experimentation into real-world use. 

Rather than prescribing a single technology, vendor, or implementation method, the strategy provides a flexible approach that allows agencies to choose solutions that meet their needs while following consistent standards for governance, privacy, security, data protection, transparency, and human oversight. 

Who’s involved? 

The strategy was developed by Washington Technology Solutions (WaTech) in collaboration with agencies across state government. 

More than 35 agencies participated in workshops and other planning activities to identify opportunities, challenges, and shared needs. The process brought together agency leaders and staff working in technology, data, privacy, cybersecurity, procurement, business operations, and public-service delivery. 

State and local governments, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, industry partners, and community stakeholders will also play an important role in helping Washington develop its workforce, test new approaches, and scale AI solutions that provide measurable public value. 

Why does it matter? 

AI can make government services easier to find, understand, and use. It can help agencies simplify complex processes, improve accessibility and language services, process documents more efficiently, strengthen decision-making, and reduce repetitive administrative work. 

Realizing those benefits requires more than adopting new tools. Agencies need trusted data, skilled employees, clear guidance, secure testing environments, responsible procurement practices, and safeguards that reflect the level of risk involved. 

Washington’s strategy creates the conditions for agencies to move faster on appropriate, lower-risk uses while applying greater review and protection to higher-risk applications. It also reinforces that people, not AI systems, remain accountable for decisions and outcomes. 

Washington’s AI strategic goals 

Goal #1: Improve Customer Experiences and Outcomes with AI 

Use AI to make government services more accessible, responsive, personalized, and easier to navigate. Agencies will focus on high-impact uses that reduce barriers and improve how residents and businesses find information, complete processes, and receive support. 

Goal #2: Support the Workforce in Using AI Effectively 

Build AI knowledge and confidence throughout the state workforce. Employees will receive appropriate training, approved tools, practical guidance, and opportunities to learn from colleagues so AI can augment human capabilities and allow more time for complex, service-centered, and mission-critical work. 

Goal #3: Scale Trusted AI Across Government 

Develop the governance, shared capabilities, secure environments, data practices, procurement resources, and reusable solutions agencies need to adopt AI consistently and responsibly. Washington will prioritize uses that deliver measurable value while protecting privacy, security, equity, transparency, and public trust. 

Principles 

Washington’s approach to AI is guided by the following principles: 

• Safe, secure, and resilient  

• Valid and reliable  

• Fair, inclusive, and non-discriminatory  

• Privacy and data protection  

• Accountability and responsibility  

• Transparency and auditability  

• Explainable and interpretable  

• Public purpose and social benefit  

• Meaningful human oversight