AUGUSTA – Governor Janet Mills today signed an executive order establishing a task force to examine the opportunities and implications of artificial intelligence (AI) for Maine’s people, economy and institutions.

The governor’s executive order follows a rapid wave of technological advancements that are poised to revolutionize the way people live and work. Nearly a fifth of the U.S. workforce is classified as “highly exposed” to AI, making them particularly vulnerable to job transformations driven by advances in artificial intelligence. At the same time, AI has the potential to create new jobs and businesses, improve productivity and efficiency, and lower barriers to entry in certain technical fields.

The Maine Artificial Intelligence Task Force will bring together leaders from business, education, labor, government and communities to study the challenges and opportunities associated with the proliferation of AI. The task force is charged with preparing policy recommendations that will enable Maine to harness the benefits of AI while minimizing risks to people and businesses.

“Emerging AI technologies offer the potential to improve lives, drive economic growth and help solve complex challenges. But like all new technologies, AI, if not adopted carefully and responsibly, can lead to potentially harmful changes in the lives and livelihoods of Maine people,” said Governor Janet Mills . “The Maine Artificial Intelligence Task Force will bring together leaders from across the state to ensure Maine seizes the opportunities presented by AI while mitigating the threats to Maine residents and businesses.”

“Artificial intelligence provides incredible opportunities for Maine businesses to innovate and grow, but we must also take proactive steps to ensure Maine’s economy is ready to adapt to the rapid pace of change,” said Heather Johnson, Commissioner of Economic and Community Development.

“Artificial intelligence holds tremendous promise for Maine, from improving education and health care to improving government services to building climate resilience and addressing climate change challenges. workforce,” said Hannah Pingree, director of the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future. “The Maine Artificial Intelligence Task Force will ensure that these advances benefit the people of Maine while minimizing disruption to our communities’ sand economy.”

The governor’s executive order directs the task force to study and propose recommendations in a report no later than October 31, 2025 that:

Prepare Maine’s economy and workforce for the opportunities and risks that may result from advances in AI;
Protecting Maine residents from potentially harmful uses of AI technologies, such as protecting consumer data privacy, mitigating bias in datasets, and requiring disclosure regarding AI use ‘AI; And
Explore the most promising use cases for state agencies, quasi-state agencies, and other public entities such as municipalities to deploy artificial intelligence technologies to fill capacity gaps and improve the provision of services.
Members of the 21-member task force will include leaders from Maine state and municipal government, the University of Maine System and the Maine Community College System, as well as members representing Maine workers , business, health care, civil rights and a consumer protection organization. The governor will announce the members of the task force in the coming weeks.

The governor’s executive order also establishes a technical advisory committee comprised of experts in technology, legal issues, energy and workforce policy to advise the task force.

The working group is expected to begin meeting in January.

Maine is among at least 26 states that have or are in the process of establishing a task force, commission or similar body to advise policymakers on emerging AI-related technologies. The Mills administration has already taken steps through the Maine Office of Information Technology to analyze risks to state infrastructure and guide state agencies’ use of AI tools.

Read the governor’s executive order.