Bo Tefu and Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media
Gov. Gavin Newsom is highlighting new technology and efficiency initiatives designed to modernize California government, including artificial intelligence tools for state employees, an extreme heat tracking system, faster hiring and simplified tax filing for small businesses.
The initiatives come one year since Newsom signed an executive order directing state agencies to identify new ways to improve government operations. The administration is presenting the efforts as an alternative to broad cuts, arguing that technology and innovation can make government more efficient while improving services for Californians.
“Government should work for the people, and that means making it more efficient, more effective, and more engaged,” said Newsom. “We’re not just changing the way government operates — we’re changing the way Californians experience their government, with better services, more innovation, and more voice.”
Under a new partnership with Anthropic, California state agencies can access Claude as an AI productivity tool at a 50% discounted rate, along with workforce training and technical assistance. The Department of Motor Vehicles is using Claude to improve customer service and reduce wait times, while other agencies are applying it to health care workflows and cybersecurity.
The state is also expanding CalHeatScore, which translates extreme temperatures into risk information that agencies and community organizations can use for emergency planning, alerts and public communications. The Office of Emergency Services now incorporates live CalHeatScore data into its statewide dashboard.
For small businesses, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration’s Quick File tool allows eligible taxpayers to complete annual sales tax returns in less than two minutes. The administration said 15,000 taxpayers used the tool during its first peak filing period, resulting in 70% faster filing and 900 hours saved.
California is also expanding a “pooled hiring” model that combines vacancies across agencies into a single job posting. A pilot involving four agencies reduced the time spent screening and interviewing applicants by 75%, according to the administration.
The initiatives are part of Newsom’s broader push to use technology, data and innovation to improve government services while maintaining safeguards for privacy, safety and civil liberties, according to the governor’s office.
