The Decision Ahead The World Economic Forum projects that 65% of children entering primary school today will work in job categories that do not yet exist. That is your future workforce—and the roles you will need to fill in your agencies. States that retreat or over-regulate will watch that talent go somewhere else. Florida has all the right ingredients to lead this next chapter: world- class universities, a strong economy, and leaders willing to balance innovation with care. The choice now is not between innovation and regulation. It is how to pursue both—responsibly, confidently, and at scale. About the Author Leanne Lapp is one of IBM’s Technology Leaders for the State of Florida and works alongside clients to develop integrated
global standards for responsible AI, contributing to governance frameworks that informed policies like the EU AI Act and the AI Pact. From this work, one lesson is clear: trust in AI rests on five essential pillars. 1. Transparency : People deserve to know how an AI system works, what data it is trained on, and where its limits are. 2. Explainability: Especially in government, AI decisions must be understandable to humans. 3. Fairness: Every system must be tested for bias from design through deployment. 4. Robustness: Systems must perform reliably, even under stress, with noisy data, or in unexpected conditions. 5. Performance: AI should measurably improve efficiency, accuracy, or outcomes. If it does not, it is not ready for use. Keeping Humans in the Loop
Here is what I tell every leader I meet: AI should enhance human decision-making, not replace it. That belief is central to every serious responsible AI policy around the world. Oversight is not a barrier to innovation—it is the foundation that makes innovation sustainable. A Framework for Florida Florida needs a principled framework that aligns with its values. That means: Starting with risk-based classification. Map use cases and govern them in proportion to their impact. Requiring transparency and explainability. Make these non-negotiable across all systems. Embedding governance in the full lifecycle. Do not treat AI governance as a one-time checkbox; systems must stay accountable over time. Investing in people. Train leaders, IT professionals, and students in AI ethics and practical oversight. This is not just a technology issue—it is a workforce issue.
solutions to address their technology challenges.
38 – 2026 Legislative Edition – Florida Technology Magazine
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