OLYMPIA — Today, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced his appointments to the newly created Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force in the Attorney General’s Office. This task force will bring together technology experts, industry representatives, labor organizations, civil liberty groups, and other stakeholders to discuss the benefits and challenges of AI. The task force will issue findings, guiding principles, and policy recommendations.
“The impact of Artificial Intelligence in our economy and daily lives is an urgent issue of our time,” Ferguson said. “Washington will lead on innovative and ethical AI, as we have in so many areas. I appreciate the task force members for committing their time and expertise, exemplifying why Washington is a technology leader in this country.”
Ferguson partnered with Sen. Joe Nguyen, D-White Center, to create the task force through Senate Bill 5838, with Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, sponsoring the companion bill in the House. The bill passed the Legislature with bipartisan support.
AI technology is rapidly developing, particularly generative AI — AI that creates content such as text, images, or audio. Tools like ChatGPT have quickly become some of the fastest-growing consumer internet applications.
A recent survey found that 79% of respondents in North America reported some exposure to generative AI, with 41% using it regularly and 22% using it regularly at work. According to a study reported in Forbes, half of Americans who interact with AI don’t realize it.
Ferguson’s task force includes experts from various fields:
- Sen. Joe Nguyen, D-White Center
- Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick
- Rep. Clyde Shavers, D-Clinton
- A member of the House Republican Caucus to be determined
- Sheri Sawyer — Deputy Director of Policy & Outreach, Governor’s Office
- Rick Talbert — Senior Project Advisor, Auditor’s Office
- Katy Ruckle — Chief Privacy Officer, Washington Technology Solutions
- Dr. Magdalena Balazinska — Director, Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington
- Kelly Fukai — Vice President of Government and Community Affairs, Washington Technology Industry Association
- Ryan Harkins — Senior Director of Public Policy, Microsoft
- Dr. Tee Sannon — Technology Policy Program Director, ACLU-Washington
- Vicky Tamaru — buildJUSTLY
- Paula Sardinas — WA Build Back Black Alliance
- Leah Koshiyama — Senior Director of Responsible AI & Tech, Salesforce
- Crystal Leatherman — Washington Retail Association
- Montana Miranda — Senior Manager of Government Affairs, Washington Hospitality Association
- Cherika Carter — Secretary Treasurer, Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO
- Chief Darrell Lowe — Redmond Police Department
The task force will include subcommittees focusing on various key areas such as education and workforce development, public safety and ethics, health care and accessibility, labor, government and public sector efficiency, state security and cybersecurity, consumer protection and privacy, and industry and innovation. Additionally, the task force may create further subcommittees as needed. The Attorney General’s Office will also establish a Tribal advisory group and a Business advisory group to provide regular updates on AI-related issues specific to developing, deploying, and using AI in businesses large and small across the state.
The task force will consider a range of mandated topics, including intellectual property and personhood protections (such as replicas of voice or likeness), high-risk uses of AI that could negatively affect safety or fundamental rights, and the appropriate human oversight and accountability needed in these contexts. It will also address systemic racial disparity issues perpetuated in AI systems, methods for protecting workers across industries from harm and bias by AI systems, opportunities to support innovation, and ways to improve transparency and public education about AI, data privacy, and security.
Over the next two years, the task force will issue findings, guiding principles, and submit a report with policy recommendations. The first meeting will be this summer, and the task force will meet at least twice a year. The final report and recommendations are due to the governor and Legislature by July 1, 2026.
At least 25 states have introduced legislation related to AI. Legislatures in states including Colorado, Illinois, Texas, Vermont, and Virginia have created task forces or commissions to study AI. Several governors have also created AI task forces by executive order.
