Equipping Sacramento for the AI Era

Artificial intelligence is transforming nearly every industry and now it is reshaping conversations inside California’s State Capitol. This fall, the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) launched its Legislative Staff Academy on AI, a groundbreaking program designed to help Sacramento’s policy community understand and prepare for the far-reaching implications of this technology. 

A Nonpartisan Resource for Lawmakers

For nearly four decades, CCST has been a nonpartisan convener at the intersection of science, technology and policy. As a nonprofit created by the Legislature in 1988, the organization’s role is to bring objective scientific expertise directly to policymakers. That role has never been more vital. With dozens of AI-related bills introduced in recent sessions, legislative staff must rapidly build fluency in the science, ethics and governance of a field advancing faster than most statutes can be written.

Building Knowledge and Confidence

According to Dr. Julianne McCall, CEO of CCST, “The CCST Legislative Academy on AI is an innovative training program to help California’s legislative staff better understand AI and the policy debates around it.” The Academy combines seminars, roundtables, applied workshops and site visits, all led by experts who can translate technical complexity into actionable insights.

By design, the Academy is nonpartisan and accessible, ensuring that staff from both the Senate and Assembly can participate at no direct expense to them. CCST collaborated with them to tailor the curriculum, making it directly responsive to the questions staff
face in their daily work.

McCall emphasizes that the goal is not only to clear up confusion about AI, but also to provide the confidence needed to shape effective policy. “By equipping legislative staff with the tools to navigate this complex and fast-moving field, we are strengthening the state’s ability to govern with foresight, ethics and confidence,” she explains.

Shaping Policy for a Stronger California

We live in a time of extraordinary challenges — and complex opportunities — and the issues facing California demand the very best of evidence-based policymaking. CCST’s mission of translating complex research into science-informed recommendations, together with building enduring bridges between scientific communities and policy makers, has never been more essential.

For Sacramento and beyond, the message is clear: California has the opportunity to chart an AI future that reflects our values. With trusted guides like CCST, the state can embrace this transition with knowledge, collaboration and confidence, ensuring that policy decisions are not only grounded in science, but also driven by a shared commitment to a more equitable and sustainable future.