Launching March 2026
As artificial intelligence becomes core public infrastructure, governments face a defining choice: Will the systems that shape public life be owned and governed by private platforms, or built and stewarded in the public interest? The next few years will determine whether public institutions retain control over essential digital capabilities.
Public AI: Practical Strategies for Buying, Building, and Governing AI in Government is a six-part series that equips public servants with the tools and insights needed to make AI work on the public’s terms. Together we will explore how governments can take a more active role in shaping the AI landscape, through smarter procurement, shared infrastructure, and open innovation. Through practical guidance, real-world case studies, and conversations with leaders across government, academia, and civil society, participants will learn how to:
-
buy AI systems without locking themselves into closed platforms,
-
build modular, interoperable, and model-agnostic solutions,
-
Govern AI responsibly through shared infrastructure, open innovation, and democratic oversight.
The series examines how we are buying AI today and what it would mean to treat AI as a public good, how to avoid vendor lock-in, and how to ensure that the algorithms mediating access to rights and services remain transparent, portable, and accountable. Participants will hear from leaders how they buy AI today and new ways of buying and building AI tomorrow. They will also explore examples ranging from Sweden’s national AI strategy to innovative U.S. state and local efforts that are already demonstrating alternatives to purely commercial, platform-dependent approaches.
This series is designed for public professionals working in digital innovation, procurement, data governance, and technology policy at all levels of government. No technical background required, just a commitment to ensuring that technology serves the public interest.
Learning Goals
By the end of this series, participants will be able to:
-
Understand the practical choices governments face when adopting AI—and how those choices shape control, flexibility, and public value.
-
Evaluate different models for developing and procuring AI systems that align with public values and long-term sustainability.
-
Identify practical strategies to prevent vendor lock-in and foster open, interoperable, and transparent AI ecosystems.
-
Learn about the burgeoning Public AI movement and help to shape its practical development
Series Moderator: Beth S. Noveck, Founder of InnovateUS and AI Advisor, NJ Innovation Authority
