Governor Josh Shapiro joined Pennsylvania Department of Education Secretary Dr. Carrie Rowe, Pennsylvania Department of Health Dr. Debra Bogen, Pennsylvania Department of State Secretary Al Schmidt, state legislators, and local leaders at the Carnegie Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania to announce new steps his Administration is taking to protect Pennsylvanians from predatory AI practices.
At the roundtable, Governor Shapiro announced three steps his Administration is taking:
- Launching an AI Literacy Toolkit, a comprehensive, multi-agency resource developed in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Departments of Education, Health, Human Services, State, Aging, and Banking and Securities to help Pennsylvanians safely and responsibly use artificial intelligence tools. The toolkit expands existing digital literacy resources into a holistic guide addressing AI’s benefits, risks, and real-world impacts across four key populations: children; seniors; Pennsylvanians with intellectual disabilities; and individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges.
- Creating an AI Enforcement Task Force at the Department of State and establishing a formal complaint and reporting process for AI-powered bots that may be engaging in unlicensed professional practice. Pennsylvanians can now submit concerns through a dedicated form, hotline, and email address, which the Task Force will evaluate to determine whether certain AI companion technologies are engaging in unlicensed practice under existing law.
- Coordinating closely with Attorney General Dave Sunday to strengthen consumer protections related to AI companion bots. While the Department of State oversees professional licensure and unlicensed practice, the Attorney General has authority under the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law to investigate consumer protection violations. Through this collaboration, the Shapiro Administration and the Office of Attorney General will share information about complaints and refer cases to the appropriate authorities when necessary.
“Artificial intelligence is transforming how we live, work, and learn — and Pennsylvania is embracing it responsibly,” said Governor Shapiro. “But as this technology advances, we will not allow bad actors to exploit our kids, mislead seniors, or impersonate licensed professionals. Today, we’re delivering on the promises I made in my budget address by expanding AI literacy, strengthening oversight, and working across agencies to protect Pennsylvanians from fraud, misinformation, and unlicensed activity.”
The announcement was made at the Carnegie Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania — one of 18 locations serving more than 12,300 young people across Allegheny, Beaver, Fayette, and Somerset Counties — and a recipient of over $1 million in Violence Intervention and Prevention grants under the Shapiro Administration, with additional state investments to expand services and improve facilities.
In 2019, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania launched its Artificial Intelligence Pathways Institute (AIPI) in 2019 — an intensive summer program where teens learn machine learning, robotics engineering, and AI ethics. Since its launch, 387 students have completed the program.
“We acknowledge the promise and opportunities that AI presents, having served hundreds of teens through our groundbreaking Artificial Intelligence Pathways Institute over the past 7 years, but we also recognize the harm it can pose if appropriate safeguards are not put in place,” said Chris Watts, President & CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania.
The multi-agency AI Literacy Toolkit provides new resources for Pennsylvanians, including information to help parents talk to their kids about AI companion bots, strategies to help kids stay safe online, guidance for using AI in the classroom, warnings about potential financial and banking scams, and a link to the Department of State’s new AI companion bot complaint form.
