RALEIGH — North Carolina State Treasurer Brad Briner rolled out an OpenAI pilot program during a March 27 press conference on the campus of North Carolina Central University.
Briner said his office would be initiating a 12-week pilot program through a memorandum of understanding with OpenAI to explore how ChatGPT can be used to enhance government operations with the aim of improving efficiency and providing better services to North Carolina citizens.
“ChatGPT is not replacing human expertise, it is augmenting our capabilities and enabling us to make more informed, data-driven positions,” said Briner.
Briner underscored that there would be strict guidelines regarding how AI will be used.
“Let me be clear: There are many areas where AI cannot be used,” Briner said. “We have a bright red line where all private personal data is concerned. We will not cross that line. This is only meant to take public data and make it more nimble and readily accessible.”
Briner said the pilot program will be conducted in two departments within his office: the Unclaimed Property (NC Cash program) and the State Local Government divisions.
Tasks mentioned include summarizing reports, identifying warning signs in local government financial data, conducting deep data searches for unclaimed property and making processes in those divisions more efficient.
Briner’s pilot is the first of its kind for a Council of State department and is similar to the agreement made between Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and OpenAI.
NC Central Provost Ontario Wooden said his school’s AI institute emphasizes the responsible and ethical development of the technology.
“At NCCU, we are incredibly proud of our artificial intelligence research and innovation as the home of the first historically black college and university AI Institute; we understand the transformational potential that AI holds,” said Wooden. “We also know that when applied thoughtfully and responsibly, AI has the power to address some of society’s most pressing challenges.”
OpenAI’s Chan Park cited the company’s mission to ensure AI benefits humanity, particularly by partnering with governments and educational institutions to expand AI literacy and practical applications.
Ronnie Chatterji, OpenAI’s chief economist, said North Carolina has the potential to be a leader in AI innovation and praised the state’s university system and “innovative” state government, which built the Research Triangle Park.
“But this time, it’s going to be around the technologies of the future in AI,” said Chatterji. “And I think for 30 years from now, we’re going to look back on events like this, and we’re going to mark these days and say, ‘This is how North Carolina built for the future. North Carolina is already a leader in AI.’”
Briner said he plans to report back on the results after the 12-week pilot program concludes with hopes of demonstrating the transformative potential of AI in public service.
The OpenAI announcement follows Briner’s call with media outlets held earlier in the week, during which the treasurer said he is pursuing several ways to improve transparency and fiscal management in his office.
Briner pointed to the treasurer’s website, which has been updated to include an accountability metrics page and a financial literacy newsletter the public can sign up to receive by email.
Briner discussed his upcoming filing of an agency bill, the Investment Modernization Act of 2025, which would change the current sole fiduciary model to a board of trustees model. He said that approach will lead to better investment decisions and a clear checks-and-balances system.
Briner told reporters he is working on distributing $50 million in funds from the Helene Cash Flow Loan Program to local governments in the impact zone. That program was established under the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024, which provided $100 million overall for the loans.
Additionally, it was announced that Jeff Poley will be the interim State and Local Government Finance Division director, replacing departing Deputy Treasurer Debbie Tomasko.
