State says resident data is safe with state AI tool. Advocates have concerns.

October 20, 2026

By Jennifer Smith

The public is souring on artificial intelligence, even as it grows more pervasive and widely adopted. High-profile incidents of AI tools involved in hacking banks, tech websites, and even government sites haven’t helped.

A recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found a solid majority of Americans — 64 percent — think AI is developing “too fast.” Respondents were most concerned about the need for human control over AI systems and the technology’s potential impact on workers.

How does that square with Gov. Maura Healey’s push to use AI throughout state government? The Healey administration in February announced a purported first-in-the-nation AI shift: Massachusetts would be the first state to adopt the technology for the entire executive branch — which includes nearly 40,000 state employees — through a partnership with OpenAI.

The AI assistant can handle resident data like tax records, RMV files, housing and rental information, and benefits documentation. There is “no direct opt-in or opt-out for residents,” according to the tool’s public FAQ, which describes it as strictly internal and not the final word on state decisions.

Given the recent hacking incidents, CommonWealth Beacon checked back in with state officials to see how they’re protecting the data. Here’s what you need to know:

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