What South Dakota Thinks About AI: Takeaways from CAIP’s trip

Last week, Brian Waldrip and I traveled to South Dakota, seeking to understand how artificial intelligence (AI) is perceived and approached in the Great Plains. We spoke with political representatives, academics, and everyday South Dakotans, as well as co-hosting an AI policy roundtable at Dakota State University’s Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences. Our conversations revealed a State both enthusiastic and cautious about AI.

Here are our key observations:

1. Desire for innovation: South Dakotans were excited about AI’s potential in sectors such as agriculture, education, and healthcare. To that end, there was a strong desire to avoid stifling innovation through overregulation. As one representative said, “We don’t want to get in the way.”
2. Concerns about AI safety: Many South Dakotans also expressed reservations about AI safety - whether related to autonomous weapons, future frontier models, or data privacy. We also discussed the difficulty of understanding how AI systems work (the “black box” problem) and the challenges of trusting AI in critical decision-making.
3. Effects on the classroom: People frequently raised the potential impact of AI on K-12 education. Topics ranged from worries about harmful apps - like those that could exploit images of students or teachers - to ensuring that AI enhances educational outcomes. 
4. Need for AI literacy and resilience: South Dakotans voiced concerns about the vulnerability of certain populations to AI-driven scams. Many were open to workshops or public service announcements to help raise awareness and build community resilience.
5. Role of universities: We were struck by the proactive role local universities are playing. Dakota State University’s roadshows are an excellent example of efforts to improve AI literacy. Student projects, like those with Sweden's National Center for Applied AI, further highlight how universities can prepare students for an AI-world. 

This trip highlighted the importance of hearing policy perspectives outside of the DC area, Silicon Valley, and other tech hubs. The ideas we encountered – a mix of pragmatism, innovation, and concern for community well-being – offer valuable insights for shaping federal AI policy. As Congress moves forward, it’s crucial that they craft AI policies that serve all Americans. 

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https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2024/08/29/dc-policy-advisors-engage-ai-roundtable-with-dsu-faculty/ 

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