Ask the CIO (Apple listing)

A New Top Priority for State CIOs in 2026

In this episode of Ask the CIO, Doug Robinson, executive director of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers, explains that artificial intelligence has surged to become the top priority for state CIOs in 2026, overtaking cybersecurity after years of dominance. He details how state governments are rapidly adopting AI through pilot projects, governance frameworks, and use cases such as chatbots, document generation, code assistance, and AI‑enhanced cybersecurity, while also grappling with a flood of AI‑related legislation. Robinson also discusses the tension between state‑level AI regulation and federal attempts at a national AI moratorium, emphasizing the states’ desire to retain control over AI policy. The conversation rounds out with insights on emerging AI applications in fraud detection, tax auditing, and public‑service optimization for 2026.