Utah’s AI Policy Office Advances Innovation Through Regulatory Mitigation
The Utah Office of AI Policy (OAIP), established by the Legislature in May 2024 and formally launched in July, is playing a crucial role in fostering responsible private-sector artificial intelligence innovation. OAIP Director Zach Boyd highlighted the office’s achievements in its first year during an interview with Government Technology.
OAIP’s primary function is to facilitate regulatory mitigation agreements with businesses, allowing them to experiment with AI technologies while temporarily relaxing certain laws. “The Legislature created a sandbox authority for us so we can temporarily relax laws and let the business community experiment — in ways that we’re comfortable with — to develop new technology uses,” Boyd explained.
One notable example is the regulatory mitigation agreement with ElizaChat, a company focused on AI applications in mental health. This partnership involves data sharing and discussions about safety and compliance, providing valuable insights for OAIP. Boyd emphasized the office’s data-driven approach to understanding potential harms and mitigating their impact.
“We’re certainly not looking for the government to be engaged in any kind of censorship or prohibition of any kind of content, generally speaking,” Boyd said, highlighting the importance of trust and transparency regarding AI-generated content, particularly concerning deepfakes.
OAIP’s work extends beyond regulatory mitigation agreements. The office communicates technology-related findings to the state Legislature, engaging with stakeholders to create a strong understanding among policymakers about the impact of specific technology use cases on constituents. This collaborative approach enables technology officials to advise on both the possibilities and limitations of technologies.
The office has developed resources to support decision-makers, including a 54-page guidance letter outlining best practices, risks, benefits, and legal considerations for AI use in mental health. Boyd expressed optimism about the office’s future impact, stating, “I think it’ll be really effective in the coming years; we’re just getting started right now.”
Looking ahead, OAIP is expected to expand its regulatory mitigation efforts, with more companies expressing interest. On the policy side, the Legislature is likely to focus on areas such as deepfakes, AI companions, data privacy, and AI applications in education and healthcare.
However, potential federal legislation could impact state-level AI policy. The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce recently advanced a bill that includes a 10-year moratorium on regulating AI, which could limit states’ ability to enforce their own laws and regulations.
Despite this uncertainty, Boyd emphasized the importance of including political actors from the start for other states considering OAIP as a model. As the AI landscape continues to evolve, Utah’s OAIP is poised to remain at the forefront of responsible innovation and policy development.
