Arkansas policymakers demonstrate both public and private commitment to ensuring the state is ready to safely harness the power of artificial intelligence.
Heartland Forward, a non-profit, policy think-and-do tank, has partnered with Heartland Whole Health Institute, to co-host Arkansas policymakers at a high-level strategy event focused on maximising AI’s potential to drive innovation in the state.
Sessions highlighted education, workforce and healthcare applications, with breakout discussions to identify pathways for safe and successful implementation.
Improving the lives of Arkansans
Arkansas First Gentleman Bryan Sanders said he and State governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders are committed to implementing AI “where it makes sense, especially to improve state government and return savings to taxpayers, prepare our students for high demand jobs, improve health, and establish common sense safeguards to protect kids”.
“With strong collaboration between state government, the private sector, Heartland Forward and Heartland Whole Health Institute, we have a great opportunity to lead on AI and improve the lives of Arkansans.”
Chief data officer and chair of the AI & Analytics Centre for Excellence Robert McGough gave an overview of Arkansas’s success to date in AI adoption and its plans for the future. Arkansas Economic Development Commission programme director Jennifer Fowler highlighted examples of pilot projects and strategic public-private collaborations amplifying Arkansas’s capacity for AI education, research and innovation. Meanwhile, John Bailey, an expert on AI policy in the US, presented a national policy briefing on AI. Heartland Whole Health Institute president Claude Pirtle MD led a discussion on balancing technological innovation and patient safety.
“Working together, we are ensuring that Arkansas is fully equipped to harness the benefits of AI and operate more efficiently for the people we serve,” said Leslie Fisken, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Shared Administrative Services.
“Our department is focused on modernising and streamlining shared services across agencies, building the capacity and tools needed to support employees, and collaborating with federal, state and community partners to deliver solutions that improve service delivery and strengthen outcomes for all Arkansans.”
The convening closed with a forward-looking session on the future of AI in Arkansas, examining priorities, ensuring safety and exploring collaboration opportunities to ensure the state’s AI strategy is effective and responsive to residents’ needs.
Heartland Forward is a non-profit, policy think-and-do tank that turns ideas into action for states and local communities. Its mission is to accelerate economic growth, change the narrative about the middle of the country and generate $500m of economic impact to the heartland by 2030. Heartland aims to achieve through applied research, community-driven programmes, policy and convenings – focusing on regional competitiveness, talent pipeline and health and wellness.
Founded in 2019 by philanthropist Alice Walton, Heartland Whole Health Institute seeks to put a whole health approach at the centre of the broader healthcare system to address the US’ current healthcare crisis. The vision is to advocate, educate, and guide the implementation of an innovative system, rooted in whole health and the realignment of financial incentives.
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Dieser Artikel ist neu veröffentlicht von / This article is republished from: Smart Cities World, 29.08.2025
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