Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Chris Given, State Chief Information Officer, Director, Department of Technology, State of California

Keynote – The Future of AI and Data in the Public Sector

How can public-sector leaders harness the power of artificial intelligence and data without sacrificing ethics, trust, or long-term value? In this session, Noelle Russell explores how governments and industries are evolving with generative and applied AI, and data-driven decision-making, highlighting real-world case studies that go beyond the hype. She shares a clear, actionable framework for scaling AI responsibly - mitigating bias, protecting privacy, leveraging data effectively, and fostering innovation that complements human ingenuity. Attendees will leave with practical steps to translate excitement into execution and ensure AI and data investments drive meaningful, sustainable impact.

Noelle Russell, Founder and Chief AI Officer, AI Leadership Institute

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Concurrent Sessions

The Shadow AI Challenge

Employees and vendors are already experimenting with AI tools, often faster than policies and governance can keep up. Panelists will discuss the risks of shadow AI, including data exposure, emerging vendor features and limited visibility into how AI tools are being used across the organization. The conversation will explore practical approaches to guidance, guardrails and responsible adoption while helping agencies balance innovation with security and oversight.

Governing at the Speed of Change

Governance models often struggle to keep up with rapidly changing technology, yet moving too slowly can create risks of its own. Adaptive governance offers a way to balance innovation, accountability, and public trust in an environment of constant change. This conversation examines decision-making structures, risk review processes, policy refresh cycles, and cross-agency coordination that can help agencies respond more effectively to emerging technologies.

The Agentic Marathon: Preparing Government for the Next Phase of AI

Agentic AI is moving from concept to capability. These systems can access information, use tools, coordinate work across applications, and begin to reshape how complex processes are executed. For government leaders, the challenge is not simply adopting another technology. It is preparing for a long operational shift involving governance, workforce readiness, organizational design, risk management, and measurable value. In this interactive session, Stephen Pieraldi, Distinguished Technologist at HP Inc., will explore how public-sector organizations can prepare for agentic AI with practical examples, real-world considerations, and audience discussion focused on what it takes to move responsibly from experimentation to execution.

Stephen Pieraldi, Distinguished Technologist, HP Inc.

Breaking Down Silos: Privacy-Preserving Data Sharing

Agencies are working to break down data silos and improve service delivery through more effective information sharing. At the same time, they face growing expectations to protect privacy, limit unnecessary collection, and maintain public trust. This discussion will look at how government can make data more useful across programs and agencies while applying privacy-preserving practices, data minimization and responsible stewardship.

AI and the Public Record: Navigating FOIA and E-Discovery

AI tools are creating new questions about public records, records retention and discoverability. As agencies adopt generative AI, they must determine how prompts, responses and other AI-generated content fit within existing FOIA, e-discovery and records-management requirements. Join us to learn how emerging approaches, legal considerations and practical challenges will shape how agencies meet transparency obligations in an AI-enabled environment.

Lunch

Bits and Bytes: California's Digital Identity Future

California is advancing a range of digital identity and privacy initiatives that will shape how residents interact with government services. This overview highlights three efforts currently gaining momentum: Mobile Driver's License, the CDT Identity Gateway and the DELETE Act Request and Opt-Out Platform (DROP). Learn what these initiatives do, how fit together and why they matter as adoption and public awareness continue to grow.

Short Break

Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.

Concurrent Sessions

Identity in the Age of Agents

As AI agents begin acting on behalf of people, agencies will need new approaches to identity, authentication, and trust. Identity management must evolve as agentic AI changes the way users, systems, and government services interact. Topics include delegated authority, digital credentials, accountability, fraud prevention, human-centered design, and the policies required to ensure secure and trusted interactions between people, agencies and AI-powered agents.

What's Next? Policy, Budget and Technology Trends

Government technology leaders are navigating a rapidly changing environment shaped by evolving policies, budget realities, and emerging technologies. Looking ahead, agencies must prepare for legislative and regulatory changes, technology investments, infrastructure planning, and emerging supply chain and cost challenges. Attendees will hear practical perspectives on how organizations are adapting strategies and preparing for the next 12 to 18 months.

AI in Action: A Peer Exchange

Government organizations are exploring AI in different ways and at different stages of maturity. In this interactive session, attendees will help select the topics they most want to discuss, then join facilitated roundtable conversations focused on real-world use cases, lessons learned and implementation experiences. The session is designed to encourage peer-to-peer learning, surface practical insights, and create new connections across the government technology community.

Emerging Technology Readiness: Frontier AI Models, Quantum and Beyond

Some emerging technologies will reshape government operations, while others may take years to mature or never achieve widespread adoption. From Mythos and cryptocurrency to quantum computing and post-quantum cryptography, government leaders are being asked to evaluate technologies whose long-term impacts remain uncertain. The conversation will focus on readiness, risk, opportunity, and how agencies can make informed decisions about where to experiment, invest, or proceed cautiously.

Workforce Changes in the AI Era: New Roles, Skills, Expectations

AI is changing how work gets done across government, reshaping job responsibilities and creating demand for new skills. As new roles emerge, responsibilities evolve and traditional job functions change, agencies are re-examining workforce needs, professional development and the future of public-sector IT careers. What skills will matter most, and how should leaders prepare for a workforce in transition?

Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners

Hosted by:

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Closing Session

Best of California Awards Ceremony

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

Network with your colleagues and discuss technology solutions with the event exhibitors.

End of Conference