A 12-week pilot program between the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer (DST) and OpenAI has revealed millions of dollars in potential unclaimed property, marking a promising use of artificial intelligence to enhance public service.

The partnership, launched to explore how AI tools like ChatGPT could improve government operations, produced measurable improvements in efficiency, particularly within DST’s Unclaimed Property Division (UPD), also known as NC Cash.

“Our team set out to find out how we could modernize our department while still providing top-notch service,” said State Treasurer Brad Briner. “This pilot showed we can use public data and ChatGPT to achieve real, tangible improvements in our workflow.”

By integrating ChatGPT into its search processes, the UPD was able to more effectively identify and reach businesses that may be holding unclaimed property. That property, once turned over to the state, could be returned to its rightful owners—potentially amounting to millions of dollars.

OpenAI’s Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane praised the effort, calling it “a powerful example of how AI can help government better serve the public.”

The pilot’s success has prompted a new collaboration between DST, OpenAI, and North Carolina Central University’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence. The trio will conduct an independent, third-party analysis and release a full report in the coming weeks detailing the program’s benefits and challenges.

This initiative places North Carolina among a growing number of public agencies exploring how AI can streamline services and deliver better outcomes for taxpayers.

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