One big thing: Utah leaders want the state to embrace artificial intelligence without surrendering the judgment, accountability and human connection that should guide it.

AI is no longer a niche technology story. It is reshaping work, education, healthcare, business and government — creating enormous opportunity alongside real concern about privacy, trust, job disruption and the erosion of critical thinking.

“AI is everywhere,” said Jefferson Moss, commissioner of the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity.

Why it matters: Utah is trying to stake out ground between uncritical enthusiasm and reflexive fear — what state leaders call the divide between AI “boomers” and AI “doomers.”

“We wanted to make sure that the technology is serving us and we think it can effectively if we guide it to and not the other way around,” said Margaret Busse, commissioner of the Utah Department of Commerce.

The framework: Utah’s pro-human AI initiative rests on two principles.

• Human-guided: People remain accountable and in control of how AI is developed and deployed.
• Human-enhancing: AI should expand human ability, productivity and opportunity — not simply replace people or relationships.

“The first is human guided, and the second is human enhancing,” Busse said.

Zoom in: Utah is translating those principles into action through seven pillars designed to reach the institutions, industries and people most likely to shape — and be shaped by — AI.

• Academic research and development: Use AI to accelerate discovery and help solve major challenges in areas such as medicine, energy and public policy.
• Industry innovation: Give Utah businesses room to develop useful AI products while building a market identity around trust and responsible innovation.
• Learning and education: Prepare students to use AI effectively without sacrificing critical thinking, creativity or durable human skills.
• Public protection: Guard against fraud, deepfakes, privacy violations and other harms while creating clear, stable rules for innovators.
• State government deployment: Use AI to improve public services, reduce costs and help residents navigate government — while maintaining strong privacy and accountability standards.
• Healthcare: Pursue more personalized, effective and affordable care through responsible uses of AI.
• Workforce empowerment: Help workers build AI fluency, become more productive and adapt as jobs and required skills change.

Why seven: The broad approach reflects a basic reality: AI will not stay confined to the technology sector. It will reach classrooms, workplaces, laboratories, hospitals, government agencies and homes. Utah leaders see potential to accelerate medical discoveries, personalize education, improve public services, strengthen established industries and help workers become more productive.

But they also say those gains require clear guardrails, strong privacy standards and public trust. The pillars are intended to ensure the state pursues opportunity and protection together — applying the same pro-human test across Utah’s economy and civic life.

What they’re saying: “We want to make sure that it’s empowering to workers, that it’s actually helping workers be more productive and and and not just replacing jobs, that it’s giving more opportunity than it’s taking,” Busse said.

The business case: Utah leaders argue that responsible AI is not a drag on innovation — it can be a competitive advantage. Clear rules can give companies and investors stability, while a pro-human identity could help Utah attract businesses that want to build trusted products.

The strategy also reaches beyond startups. Aerospace and defense, energy, mining and life sciences all depend on public confidence, especially when AI touches sensitive data, health or essential services.

Reality check: Success is not guaranteed. Government must earn trust while using a technology many people already distrust. Schools must teach AI fluency without weakening critical thinking. Employers must help workers adapt as jobs and skills change.

The bottom line: Utah wants to prove that a state can pursue AI innovation and protect human well-being at the same time — then offer that model to the country.

“We don’t mind being first. Utah likes to be first,” Moss said.