At two NCDIT-hosted events in late March, state and local government professionals explored two keys to making emerging technologies serve the needs and security of North Carolinians: accountability and trust.
To Robert Teschner, a former Air Force fighter pilot and founder of leadership development firm Vmax Group, accountability means forward thinking and maintaining integrity.
In his keynote address at the North Carolina IT Leadership Forum held in Durham on March 24, he emphasized that accountability requires that all team leaders and members embrace vulnerability and honesty, so they all take “absolute ownership for the outcomes we all achieve.”
I-Sah Hsieh, NCDIT deputy secretary for AI and policy, echoed that sentiment at the at the North Carolina AI and Cybersecurity Symposium in Raleigh on March 25. "Tech has to earn your trust,” he said. “AI moves at the speed of trust."
It's essential to "make North Carolina the most AI-friendly state in the nation,” state Rep. Jake Johnson said in opening remarks at the symposium.
North Carolina has adopted a three-pronged approach to deploy trustworthy AI stemming from Governor Josh Stein's executive order on AI:
- The AI Leadership Council brings together state, academic and industry leaders to guide standards and policy.
- Agency AI oversight committees distribute responsibility for development and help agencies innovate according to their missions.
- The NCDIT-run AI Accelerator offers a structured process for state agencies to submit real-world challenges they face that could be addressed by AI. Staff evaluate opportunities for high-impact or scalable AI projects, and vendors participate in rapid 60-day prototype sprints.
Speakers across both events stressed that trustworthy AI depends on thoughtful involvement from professionals in technical, legal, communication and privacy roles. Humans should be the ones to lead AI, not just oversee it.
Implementing Trustworthy Systems
Privacy and design must also be considered to provide accountability and trust, especially when it comes to transparency in how the state collects and uses data. “The more people understand the potential impact of data, the more they think about how to use it for good,” said Martha Wewer, State Chief Privacy Officer.
Government technologists further uphold accountability by designing with accessibility at the forefront. Amy Hepler, NCDIT lead accessibility designer, emphasized that thoughtful design considers human abilities to create clearer, more inclusive and resilient products to expand access.
Cybersecurity discussions also underscored how trust and accountability shape the state’s defensive posture. NCDIT’s SecureNC program gives agencies real-time visibility into threats, vulnerabilities and assets, helping leaders make informed, transparent decisions.
State Chief Information Security Officer Bernice Russell-Bond noted that continuous and accurate data is essential. “Things constantly change, and having real-time information at your fingertips makes all the difference,” she said.
Across AI, cybersecurity, privacy and design, state leaders emphasized that trust and accountability must guide every technology decision to ensure North Carolina government remains prepared, responsible and focused on serving the public with integrity.
