Emerging Tech
Data can help agencies get ahead of increasing health care costs amid funding uncertainty
States are turning to data to inform health care spending decisions. One expert says tech like artificial intelligence will play a large role in enhancing those decisions.
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Today’s finance teams carry a heavy burden, supporting everything from growth strategies to long-term planning – all while continuously delivering monthly and quarterly numbers and keeping cash flowing. But even as demands on finance departments grow, many still spend excessive time using paper, spreadsheets, and e-mails to process vendor invoices, approvals, and payments.
New sensor detects airborne bird flu in minutes
The researchers' work is crucially timed as the avian virus has taken a dangerous turn over the past year to being transmitted via airborne particles to mammals, including humans.
‘Science experimenting’ in a leading AI state
New York CIO Dru Rai said failing fast doesn’t need to be a bad thing as agencies experiment with new technologies.
As Texas’ energy demand soars, a pilot program looks to bolster grid with “virtual power plants” fueled by people’s homes
Some Texans who install residential batteries, solar panels and smart thermostats can now send power back to the grid and get a credit on their bill.
State fire agency taps augmented reality to train for ‘high-risk missions’
Augmented reality isn’t just for avid gamers. The technology is helping California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection prepare its flight crews for real-life emergencies like hoist rescues.
Lawmaker warns of ‘patchwork’ state AI laws
Congress must take the lead on regulating the technology, said Rep. Jay Obernolte during a recent tech conference, otherwise the country risks a repeat of what has happened on data privacy laws.
How much does scientific progress cost? Without government dollars for research infrastructure, breakthroughs become improbable
It costs money to maintain the various facilities, utilities and personnel that allow scientists to conduct research in the first place. Without federal support, institutions are left scrambling.
AI translation tools could improve trust in public safety efforts
Los Angeles County leveraged an AI tool to generate live translations during press conferences about wildfires and deliver critical safety information to residents more effectively.
Utah lawmaker wants police to disclose when they use artificial intelligence
A proposed bill would require law enforcement officers to disclose when and how they use the technology in police reports.
Navigating the increasing government cybersecurity challenges in 2025 and beyond
COMMENTARY | Identity security, resiliency and a whole-of-state approach are just some of the ways agencies can steel themselves against the ever-increasing threat landscape.
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States must ‘keep delivering’ amid new Trump AI order
The pace of the new administration rescinding previous guidance and implementing their own might make leaders’ heads spin. But experts said they cannot be distracted from their own missions.
Facial recognition in policing is getting state-by-state guardrails
Instances of false arrests and privacy concerns are drawing lawmakers’ attention.
How emerging tech is shaping law enforcement
Sensors and analytics are helping under-resourced departments be more effective. But agencies must do their due diligence when adopting these new systems.
Jockeying intensifies for state quantum leadership
New Mexico will open a major research and development center, while Maryland promised to invest $1 billion in the technology in the next five years.
How governments can get agencies to stop using foreign drones: Pay up.
A proposed bill in North Dakota offers an effective model for other states looking to cut ties with foreign-made drones.
How satellites and AI help fight wildfires today
COMMENTARY | Fire spotters used to watch with binoculars from forest towers. Now, technology can help forecast fire behavior, but human experience is still essential.
EVs in Tennessee: Uncertainty abounds as Trump targets Biden-era electric vehicle funding
Tennessee investments in the electric vehicle sector face an uncertain future as President Donald Trump halts infrastructure spending.
Tech startup gets on fast track to install sidewalk EV charging towers after hiring Eric Adams’ power broker
Gravity Technologies is preparing to plant “trees” to juice up city agency vehicles, with help from the lobbying firm founded by the mayor’s former chief of staff, Frank Carone.
Digital twin helps Texas port track operations, plan ahead
The Port of Corpus Christi deployed its Overall Port Tactical Information Computer System to provide a “single pane of glass” to law enforcement and other authorities who monitor it.
State governments seek to leverage AI’s promise while mitigating its hazards
Governments are experimenting with the technology and actively deploying it, but still must wrestle with policies governing its use and the potential fiscal impacts.
