Where are we headed, and

how's the ride there?

Leading the state's technology organization has been an exciting and transformative journey in shaping the vision of enterprise IT. Looking back on 2024, I am inspired by what we have accomplished together and confident that great things lie ahead.

So, where are we headed, and how's the ride there? Will emerging technology redraw the landscape in the year now underway? Where will it improve government efficiency and services in Georgia? How will we get ahead of the hurdles and drive success? These are tough questions. Anyone offering an easy answer is likely not from the IT community.

There will be changes, undoubtedly. Artificial intelligence (AI) implementations and usage are a sure bet for meaningful movement in 2025. The Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) will continue leading the way, collaborating with state entities to attain our desired rewards. We'll work to ensure informed, responsible and ethical adoption and use of AI across state government. In March, we will open our AI Innovations Lab, which will serve as a proving space for pilot programs and a collaboration space for agencies and industry partners.

Will cybersecurity evolve? It has to. Threats posed by cyber attackers are fluid, persistent and pervasive. Our state systems and data defenders must be prepared and practiced to counter them. That applies to security teams and state employees. GTA will provide security and training tools, expertise and partnerships so no Georgia government entity has to go it alone.

Advances in automation will continue to reshape GTA technology services in 2025, all to the benefit of our customers. From improved response times to greater ease of use, the upsides allow us to do more of what customers need and bring high-quality services to more agencies. Expanding self-service options will go hand in hand with that.

It isn’t easy to forecast where and how technology will precisely make its most significant impact in Georgia this year. However, it's much easier to recognize the momentum and appetite for IT-enabled improvements. Those will be with us all through 2025, and GTA looks forward to navigating that path alongside your organizations.

Showcase puts technology-enabled projects in spotlight

T’is the season again – for nominating your innovative IT projects for recognition in the GTA-sponsored Technology Innovation Showcase. The 2025 edition of the showcase, now in its 14th year, is accepting new entries from Georgia government entities.

Submissions will be invited in categories including data management, digital government, cybersecurity, emerging technologies and more.

Projects receiving top honors in last year's showcase ranged from implementing micro-credentials (badges) for Georgia technical college students to introducing publicly accessible online dashboards that show distribution of healthcare providers across Georgia. State agencies varying from the Department of Driver Services to the Georgia Student Finance Commission were among the honorees.

The showcase is more than just an awards program -- it promotes exchange of ideas for innovative uses of technology. See details on the GTA website, and plan to submit your entries before the February 28 deadline.

New website a hub for state's

AI Program resources

GTA's Office of Artificial Intelligence has introduced a website -- ai.georgia.gov -- to serve as an online headquarters for information about the state's AI Program. Housing everything from Georgia's AI policy statements to ethics guidance to training options, the site becomes a key tool in GTA's push for responsible, informed and ethical deployment of AI across Georgia government.

Agencies will find guidelines there for using AI tools, including high-profile entries like ChatGPT. Details are also available about the state's AI Advisory Council, including the group's membership, meeting schedule and discussion summaries. And there's a path for engaging with the Innovation Lab GTA is developing to cultivate and experiment with innovative AI solutions.

The new AI website and other elements of the Georgia's evolving AI Program were showcased at a December 2024 event. This second annual Georgia Emerging Technology Summit, co-hosted by GTA and Government Technology media, focused on widely agreed prerequisites for effective AI implementations. Critical considerations such as security, data management, ethical guidelines and AI literacy for our workforce anchored discussion. Attended by business and IT leaders from agencies across Georgia government, the summit illustrated a shared commitment to making Georgia’s AI usage innovative, responsible and secure.

• The Annual State IT Report published by GTA highlights the impressive technology accomplishments of agencies all across Georgia government. The FY 2024 edition includes enterprise IT themes ranging from the state's AI Program to cybersecurity initiatives, broadband service expansion, automation in IT services, cloud computing transformation, IT investment management, digital presence, and state IT expenditures data. See the full report on GTA's website.

• The Georgia Broadband Program reaches beyond infrastructure buildout. GTA's work there helps connect Georgia communities to internet opportunities like education, vocational paths, economic development, healthcare and more. It's about ensuring all Georgians can access these options. In recent weeks GTA has been accepting applications for the state's grant program that will facilitate distribution of $1.3 billion in federal BEAD funds received by Georgia for broadband expansion. The goal is to bring high-speed internet connectivity to Georgia's remaining unserved and underserved communities. See details on the Georgia Broadband Program website.

• GTA technology services teams are making things easier for customers and promoting more of the service outcomes customers are after. Those measures include more self-service options, increased automation in processes, more efficient service ordering, and improved customer support structures. Guidance available from the Georgia enterprise IT service desk's virtual assistant has expanded significantly. Automation is speeding processes and eliminating manual steps. And, a new GTA Service Portal makes services, support and information easier to access online for GTA's existing and potential customers.

• GovHub, the state's official web publishing platform, has added a key state agency website to the approximately 90 sites hosted there. The Georgia Department of Community Affairs now presents its DCA website on GovHub, which is managed by GTA's Digital Services and Solutions team (DS&S). The new site provides consistency and ease of access to information about DCA programs ranging from community development to disaster relief, housing assistance, historic preservation and more. DS&S also partnered with the Governor's Office and the Department of Community Health to introduce a Georgia Pathways to Coverage website hosted on GovHub. It provides a gateway to additional healthcare coverage options available to Georgians.