Empowering Evidence-Based Policy
The CCST Legislative Staff Academy on Artificial Intelligence delivers accessible, evidence-based training on the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. The program, part of CCST’s AI Policy Initiative, is designed to equip California’s legislative staff with actionable knowledge on AI’s technical foundations, its use in government systems, and its societal impacts.
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Nonpartisan, expert-led AI education for California Legislative Staff
California is positioning itself as a leader in developing safe, ethical, and effective AI, with more than 50 AI-related bills introduced in the 2025 legislative session alone. The AI Academy addresses a critical need for evidence-based resources that policymakers can trust. Leveraging the vast experience across California’s research and technology sectors, the legislative training provides discussion, hands-on experience, partnership building, and site visits to build a deep understanding of the questions and nuances surrounding AI development.
Why CCST?
CCST is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization established via the Legislature in 1988 to serve as the State of California’s advisory body on science and technology issues. With in-house AI expertise and a broad network of trusted experts across academia, government, and industry, CCST serves as a vital partner in ensuring California leads in ethical, equitable, and effective AI governance. The AI Academy builds digital literacy, supports ethical human–machine collaboration, and ensures a workforce prepared for effective governance in the digital age.
2025 Launch: Laying the Foundation
The Academy launched in October 2025, in partnership with Omidyar Network and with additional collaboration from the Kapor Foundation. This initial launch provided a foundational understanding of AI, introducing core concepts and key ideas that shape the field.
The initial launch included four key educational events:
- AI Fundamentals: Training Series
- AI & California's Changing Workforce: Roundtable Discussion
- AI in Action: Site Visits
- Showcase: AI Research & Innovation In Action
AI Fundamentals (Oct. 2025)
Roundtable: AI & California's Changing Workforce (Nov. 2025)
Site Visit: AI in Action (Dec. 2025)
AI in Action Showcase (March 2026)
Launch Series has Included speakers and host locations from:
AI is moving fast, and policymakers need trusted, evidence-backed clarity—not technological hype. At CCST, we speak the technical language and connect decision-makers with the experts and science they need to engage confidently. The AI Academy provides grounded, actionable understanding in a rapidly evolving landscape, empowering California's leaders to make informed and responsible decisions.
Héctor Corzo, PhD
CCST Senior Science Officer
Foundational AI knowledge. Real-world applications. Tools for informed legislative action.
Sessions covering topics including:
AI Fundamentals
Clear, accessible explanation of core concepts, including machine learning, neural networks, and generative AI.
Opportunities & Risks
Examination of AI applications in critical sectors such as health, transportation, and public safety, highlighting both transformative benefits and potential harms such as bias, misinformation, and overreliance.
Government Operations
How AI can enhance government services, efficiency, and decision-making while addressing oversight, accountability, and workforce readiness.
Ethics & Society
Impacts on fairness, privacy, equity, and accessibility, emphasizing the need for ethical design, transparent practices, inclusive policymaking, and AI policies that are more participatory and accountable.
Data & Privacy
Discussion of the central role of data in AI systems, with attention to privacy protections, consent, data security, and responsible data-governance practices.
Regulation & Policy
Overview of enacted and emerging AI laws, standards, and regulatory frameworks at the international, national, and state levels, highlighting California’s leadership and the broader policy challenges ahead.
Hardware & Innovation
Insight into the computing infrastructure that enables modern AI, from advanced chips and cloud architectures to energy-efficient systems, and how these innovations drive current capabilities and future trends.
2026 and Beyond: Full Academy Launch
The Academy’s full launch in Fall 2026 will introduce an annual program, expanding the curriculum and deepening cross-sector dialogue between policymakers, researchers, and civil society leaders. Sign up to learn more. Expected programs include:
- Foundational Seminars. Expert-led sessions on core AI topics, such as machine learning, data governance, algorithmic bias, and ethics, tailored to policymaking.
- Applied Topical Workshops. Interactive workshops exploring AI in government, sector-specific applications (e.g., health, transportation), and regulatory issues.
- Cross-Sector Panels & Dialogues. Facilitated discussions connecting multi-sectoral experts to examine AI's societal impacts.
- Site Visits. Firsthand insight through visits to infrastructure and organizations on the frontlines of AI development across California.
- Cohort-Based Learning. A structured learning community to support peer exchange and develop long-term professional networks.
- Resource Toolkit. Curated materials, including informational briefs and technical primers, for ongoing reference on AI-related legislation.
- Evaluation & Adaptation. Continuous assessment to ensure the program remains relevant and impactful.
