AI in Government: Responsible Use and Risk Awareness

Approximately 1 hour (online) - Launching in September

The course is designed for non-technical staff and does not require prior AI knowledge.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Define AI in simple, non-technical terms
2. Identify AI use cases relevant to government tasks
3. Explain limitations and risks of AI, including bias and misinformation
4. Recognize best practices for ethical, secure, and privacy-conscious AI use
5. Understand their responsibility to use AI tools with human oversight
6. Apply agency-specific guidelines, if applicable

Module 1: What is AI and Why It Matters

• Introduction to AI and key terminology
• Examples of AI in the public sector
• Quick concept check

Module 2: Legal and Ethical Foundations

• Overview of legal requirements
• Key restrictions (e.g., social scoring, automated decision-making)
• Related Texas and federal AI laws and executive guidance
• Interactive scenario: legal or not?

Module 3: Risk Management and Responsible Use

• Common risks: hallucinations, bias, data privacy
• Reviewing AI-generated content with critical thinking
• Agency accountability and documentation
• Custom content: link to internal agency policies

Module 4: Applying AI in Your Role

• Everyday examples: communications, research, analysis
• Activity: evaluate an AI-generated response
• Reference list of approved tools

Wrap-up and Certification

• Final review and knowledge check

Certificate of completion