Governor Greg Abbott appointed members to Texas’ Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council, a move commended by the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF). The council, established through Rep. Giovanni Capriglione’s House Bill 2060, aims to oversee the use of AI in state agencies and consider the implementation of a code of ethics for AI systems in government.

Among the appointed members are John Bash, Mark Stone, Ph.D., Dean Teffer, Ph.D., and Angela Wilkins, Ph.D. Speaker Dade Phelan selected Representative Giovanni Capriglione as co-chair, while Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick appointed Senator Tan Parker as the other co-chair.

David Dunmoyer, campaign director for Better Tech for Tomorrow, expressed the importance of the council in promoting transparency and ethical practices in the use of AI in state government. He stated, “For years, state agencies in Texas have been employing artificial intelligence, making decisions that directly affect taxpayers without transparency or knowledge as to when and how this is happening. The creation of this council will realize the vision of HB 2060 to ensure transparency and human dignity are animating the adoption and use of AI in Texas.”

Zach Whiting, policy director for Better Tech for Tomorrow, emphasized the significance of understanding how AI is utilized in various government sectors. He said, “It is incredibly important to shine a light on how AI is used across government—in law enforcement, finance, HR, IT, to provide services, and more. We look forward to engaging with the advisory council and stakeholders to find meaningful policy solutions for the responsible use of AI in state government."