Op-Ed: Missed opportunities: What to learn from Washington’s AI Task Force

In 2024, the Washington State Legislature created an AI Task Force. Lawmakers acknowledged that AI “holds extraordinary potential and has a myriad uses for both the public and private sectors.” It also highlighted that AI could “help solve urgent challenges, while making our world more prosperous, productive, and secure when used responsibly.” The clear emphasis on the importance of harnessing the upsides of AI reflected the fact that many Washingtonians are struggling under the status quo.

Yet, three years later, the Task Force failed to meaningfully help the state move the dial on leveraging AI to improve human flourishing. This outcome was in man...