UPDATE – FEBRUARY 2026:
Since Governor Healey’s February 2024 Executive Order establishing the AI Strategic Task Force, Massachusetts has moved from planning to large-scale implementation. The Task Force’s recommendations helped catalyze the creation of more permanent AI governance and innovation structures, including the Commonwealth’s AI Center of Excellence within the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security. This body now coordinates AI adoption standards, procurement guidance, and risk management practices across state agencies.
The administration’s proposed $100 million “Applied AI Hub” has evolved into the formally launched Massachusetts AI Hub under the Mass Leads Act. In 2025, the state committed more than $31 million to expand sustainable high-performance computing infrastructure for AI, partnering with major research institutions and universities. Additional sector-focused grants—totaling millions of dollars—have supported applied AI development in healthcare, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, climatetech, education, and robotics.
The InnovateMA partnership with Northeastern University has also matured into broader AI pilot programs across state government, focusing on service delivery improvements, operational efficiency, and secure generative AI experimentation. These efforts are now guided by formal AI procurement standards and ethical oversight frameworks developed by the AI Center of Excellence.
Collectively, these developments reflect Massachusetts’ transition from AI study and strategy formulation to sustained investment, institutional governance, and ecosystem-building—positioning the state as a national leader in applied, responsibly governed artificial intelligence.
ORIGINAL NEWS STORY:
Massachusetts Governor Establishes AI Task Force
Another United States Governor is using their power to study the positives and negatives of AI. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed an Executive Order on February 14, 2024 to establish an AI Strategic Task Force that will study the impact of AI and generative AI on the state. The 25-member task force, co-chaired by the Secretaries of Economic Development and Technology Services, will develop recommendations on how Massachusetts can support businesses in adopting AI and position itself as a leader in the technology. It will have industry-specific working groups for key sectors like healthcare, life sciences, and education.
Task Force Goals
The mission is to find ways to encourage leading industries to adopt AI to ensure the state’s continued economic success. Recommendations will focus on helping startups scale and promoting Massachusetts as a hub for AI talent and business excellence. Launching the task force delivers on the administration’s economic plan to keep Massachusetts at the forefront of emerging technologies.
The administration also announced a partnership with Northeastern University on InnovateMA to use AI across state government. This will help test ways generative AI can improve efficiency and accessibility of services. Northeastern co-ops have started assisting the state in implementing AI for several use cases like improving policy navigation for agencies, predicting grant eligibility, and enhancing public transportation services.
Governor Healey will also seek $100 million in economic legislation to create an Applied AI Hub to support adopting AI capabilities in the public and private sectors. The Governor believes this will help position Massachusetts to act on the task force’s strategic goals.
The task force includes leaders from academia, industry, and government. It will begin meeting this month and make final recommendations later this year. Members will collaborate on strategies leveraging AI’s benefits for the economy and local communities. The administration acknowledges AI as a transformative technology and wants to proactively embrace its potential while ensuring proper safeguards.
Need Help?
It’s tough keeping track of the AI regulatory landscape, especially when there are so many different approaches. Therefore, consider reaching out to BABL AI, their team of Audit Experts is ready to offer valuable insight, and answer your questions and concerns.
