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California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law regulations that will require artificial intelligence developers to make their safety protocols public, marking a first-of-its-kind effort to regulate AI.
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FCC Greenlights States’ Use of Cellphone Jamming in Prisons
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has okayed a request from 23 state attorneys general to allow state correctional facilities to use cellphone jamming technology. -
Shutdown Leaves Cyber Info Sharing in Legal Limbo, Experts Warn
The government shutdown and Congress’s failure to reauthorize the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 (CISA 15) have put cyber defenses at risk, cybersecurity experts are warning, saying the pressure is now on state and local governments and industry members. -
OpenAI Integrates Coursera Learning Support Into ChatGPT
Users of OpenAI’s ChatGPT can now use certain apps that run inside ChatGPT, including Coursera for education use cases, the artificial intelligence company said on Monday, explaining that users can bring course content into a live conversation.
Recent News
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Syracuse University Expands AI Access Campuswide
Syracuse University has launched a new partnership with Anthropic, an artificial intelligence research and safety company, to provide campuswide access to Claude for Education, an AI platform designed specifically for academic use. -
NSF Invests $30M to Build Next-Gen STEM Research Hubs
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is investing around $30 million in institutions across several states to establish research centers in science and technology that will bolster efforts in semiconductors and biotechnology. -
New Research Highlights AI K-12 Progress; How Leaders Overcome Hurdles
K-12 IT leaders overwhelmingly agree that artificial intelligence (AI) is vital for students’ success, but most districts are still stuck in pilot mode, according to new MeriTalk research.

Join state CIOs and industry experts for discussions on the pressing issues facing state and local government IT teams during the next installment of MeriTalk’s State Tech Vision series.
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Ohio Homeland Security Launches AI-Powered Tip System
Ohio Homeland Security (OHS) has launched a suspicious activity reporting system powered by artificial intelligence to help residents submit more detailed and actionable tips to law enforcement. -
New York to Distribute $13.9M in MFA Tokens to Local Governments
New York State is making $13.9 million in federal grant funding available to help local governments improve their cybersecurity infrastructure – but instead of issuing checks, the state will procure the cybersecurity tools directly. -
State, Local Governments See AI Momentum, but Scaling Gets Stuck Between Pilot and Production
State and local government IT leaders say the AI payoff is real – and mission-critical – but many efforts are stalling short of broad deployment, according to new MeriTalk research. -
AI in K-12 Education Still in Early Stages, Survey Finds
While 57% of school districts report using AI in their network environments, most are still in the early stages of implementation for their back-end systems, according to a new survey from the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN).
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NSF AI Education Act Targets Cyber Workforce Shortage
Legislation that would fund artificial intelligence scholarships, centers, and teaching resources to expand education and cyber workforce training was introduced Tuesday by Rep. Vince Fong, D-Calif.
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NIST Invests $3.3M to Boost Cybersecurity Workforce Across 13 States
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is awarding over $3.3 million in cooperative agreements to educational and community organizations to build the nation’s dwindling cyber workforce.
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Maryland, Microsoft Partner on Quantum Research Center
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announced on Sept. 17 that Microsoft will open a new quantum research center in the greater College Park, Md., area, building on Maryland’s momentum to become a global leader for quantum.
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St. Louis Moves Forward With AI Data Center Framework
The mayor of St. Louis, Mo., has signed an executive order to develop a framework for developing artificial intelligence data centers after previously considering a temporary ban on the development of those centers.
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Government Leaders Urge Action as SLCGP Nears Expiration
Nine state and local government organizations are asking congressional leadership to reauthorize the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP), warning that without continued funding through the program, security systems across the nation will falter.
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Colgate University to Launch Streamlined Digital Portal
Colgate University is introducing a new centralized digital portal aimed at simplifying access to campus systems and information for students, faculty, and staff.
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EdTech Leaders Urge Congress to Protect and Modernize E-Rate
As the Senate reexamines the Universal Service Fund (USF), education technology leaders are urging lawmakers to protect and modernize the E-Rate program, which they say has connected nearly every U.S. public school to the internet but now faces mounting cybersecurity and funding challenges.
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Higher Ed’s AI Push Shows Momentum, but Scaling Stalls Without the ‘3 Ps’
Higher education IT leaders are bullish on artificial intelligence (AI) but struggle to scale pilot projects organization-wide, according to new research from MeriTalk.
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Sen. Cruz Pushes Federal AI Law, Warns of State Patchwork
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is calling for a national AI regulatory framework to avoid what he describes as a fragmented and failing system of state-led oversight.
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Arizona CISO: Defending Against Salt Typhoon Is ‘Team Sport’
Arizona’s top cybersecurity official is warning that state and local governments cannot stand alone against sophisticated nation-state cyber threats, stressing that defending against adversaries such as the China-linked “Salt Typhoon” requires collective action across government, industry, and international partners.