At the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) Annual Conference last week, Tennessee CIO Kristin Darby said the state is strengthening AI governance to support innovation while protecting security. Tennessee created an AI Advisory Council in 2024, and the council released its action plan in fall 2025. Darby said governance remains the state’s focus.

Tennessee requires AI systems to receive approval through Strategic Technology Solutions (STS), Darby’s agency, and monitors tools used across state government for shadow AI (AI tools used without official approval). Darby said electronic policy enforcement and runtime monitoring are being implemented to detect and turn off systems that have not been approved. She said that without electronic monitoring of AI activity, the state cannot guarantee safety.

Darby said Tennessee is also using AI in public services. A chatbot at the Department of Safety and Homeland Security answers residents’ most common questions and currently handles a few thousand calls a day, with a high customer satisfaction rating. She said the service is having an impact for constituents and is being scaled across other agencies. In her conference remarks, Darby also said governance involves agencies and the legislative side, and that trust and transparency are necessary to maintain confidence in the state’s AI strategy. The article did not give an exact call count or satisfaction figure.

At the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) Annual Conference last week, Tennessee CIO Kristin Darby said the state is strengthening AI governance to support innovation while protecting security. Tennessee created an AI Advisory Council in 2024, and the council released its action plan in fall 2025. Darby said governance remains the state’s focus.

Tennessee requires AI systems to receive approval through Strategic Technology Solutions (STS), Darby’s agency, and monitors tools used across state government for shadow AI (AI tools used without official approval). Darby said electronic policy enforcement and runtime monitoring are being implemented to detect and turn off systems that have not been approved. She said that without electronic monitoring of AI activity, the state cannot guarantee safety.

Darby said Tennessee is also using AI in public services. A chatbot at the Department of Safety and Homeland Security answers residents’ most common questions and currently handles a few thousand calls a day, with a high customer satisfaction rating. She said the service is having an impact for constituents and is being scaled across other agencies. In her conference remarks, Darby also said governance involves agencies and the legislative side, and that trust and transparency are necessary to maintain confidence in the state’s AI strategy. The article did not give an exact call count or satisfaction figure.