NC Treasurer’s Office Expands AI Use Agency-Wide After Pilot Success
North Carolina’s treasurer will deploy AI tools agency-wide after a pilot program showed 10% productivity gains, despite worker concerns.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA — The North Carolina Treasurer’s Office announced Monday it will deploy artificial intelligence tools throughout the agency following a successful pilot program that showed productivity gains of up to 10 percent in certain divisions.
State Treasurer Brad Briner said the expanded AI implementation represents responsible stewardship of taxpayer funds. “We have a moral obligation to the taxpayer to use their money wisely,” Briner said in a statement. “That means improving the efficiency of everything we do as state government, and artificial intelligence is already being used throughout the private sector with stunning results.”
Pilot Program Results Drive Expansion
The agency’s decision builds on a 12-week pilot program conducted in 2025, during which the Unclaimed Property and State and Local Government Finance divisions tested ChatGPT. The evaluation report determined the AI tool significantly reduced time requirements for various tasks.
“Our 12-week pilot program with OpenAI showed up to 10% increased productivity in certain divisions,” Briner stated. “We expect that implementing AI tools across the department will replicate that productivity increase across our entire team, leading to a better return for your taxpayer dollars.”
During the initial testing phase, the office used ChatGPT at no cost to evaluate its effectiveness across different operational areas.
Financial Investment in AI Technology
The treasurer’s office has made substantial financial commitments to AI technology. Last month, officials purchased 150 ChatGPT licenses at an annual cost of approximately $51,700.
The agency previously acquired Microsoft Copilot and GitHub Copilot licenses six months ago. Microsoft’s AI solution costs about $16,200 annually, while GitHub Copilot requires approximately $45,100 per year.
The new NC Investment Authority is currently negotiating to purchase Claude by Anthropic, according to information provided by the Treasurer’s Office.
Worker Concerns and Data Security
The State Employees Association of North Carolina expressed caution about the AI expansion, noting that the technology’s impact on workers remains “a great unknown.” The organization pointed to job losses that have sometimes accompanied AI adoption in other economic sectors.
The treasurer’s office addressed data security concerns in its announcement, stating that personal data will remain secure under the new AI implementation. Officials did not provide specific details about the security measures being implemented to protect sensitive information.
The agency-wide deployment represents one of the most comprehensive AI integrations by a North Carolina state office, as government entities nationwide grapple with balancing technological advancement and workforce stability.
