Podcast Summary: Priorities Podcast by StateScoop

Episode: AI, budget and accessibility are rising concerns for state CIOs
Date: December 17, 2025
Host: Colin Wood, Editor-in-Chief, StateScoop
Guest: Doug Robinson, Executive Director, NASCIO (National Association of State Chief Information Officers)

Episode Overview

This episode explores the dramatic elevation of artificial intelligence (AI) as the leading priority for state CIOs across the United States, as revealed in NASCIO’s influential annual Top 10 Priorities list. Doug Robinson discusses why AI has surged to the forefront, the interplay between AI and other perennial issues like cybersecurity, and rising challenges state CIOs face—including tightening budgets, digital accessibility mandates, workforce issues, and the shifting focus of technology investments. The conversation is set against a backdrop of major federal actions and ongoing state modernization efforts, with tangible examples and candid commentary on what state IT offices should anticipate in 2026.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. AI Surges to the Top of State CIO Priorities

[01:44 - 04:00]

• Historic Shift: For the first time in over 20 years of NASCIO’s annual priorities survey, artificial intelligence has overwhelmingly ascended to the number one spot, overtaking cybersecurity (which held the top spot for 12 years).

  • Quote:

  "Artificial intelligence has moved into the number one slot, which is the story... Not surprising certainly to any of us that are tracking that. But it's in a very, very swift ascension to number one... For the first time in the history of 20 years of doing the top 10, we've seen a technology, policy and strategy approach that went very, very quickly from not being on the list three years ago to being number one."
  — Doug Robinson [01:44]

• Widespread Adoption: Over 90% of states have implemented pilots or proof-of-concept AI projects; many now move to full production, integrating AI beyond basic chatbots into nearly all business tools.

  • Quote:

  "You've seen meaningful beyond, I would call that beyond chatbots and virtual assistants, which will be predominant utilization. So that's been part of it. Obviously it's embedded in almost every tool now that states are bringing in from their supplier community."
  — Doug Robinson [03:56]

2. Drivers Behind Accelerated AI Interest

[03:22 - 06:48]

• From Pilot to Production: Rapid expansion from experimentation to operational usage within agencies and line-of-business areas.
• Frameworks and Governance: Most states now have responsible use policies, enterprise frameworks, and active AI governance task forces.
• Unprecedented Hype but Real Value: While some AI attention is driven by hype, its transformative potential is tangible. Legislative actions (over 1,000 AI-related state bills in 2025) and regulatory focus underscore the urgency and demand for risk governance.

3. The Relationship with Cybersecurity and Other Priorities

[06:48 - 09:21]

• Cybersecurity Still Essential: Now at number two, but remains foundational. The rise of AI does not diminish the persistent challenges of cybersecurity and modernization; rather, AI is becoming integrated into all these areas.

• Governance Is Key:

  • Quote:

  "AI is actually supporting all of those. Right. So AI is embedded in those conversations. It's just now getting so much attention."
  — Doug Robinson [07:50]

• Regulatory and Legislative Pressures: States are urged to form enterprise AI frameworks, task forces, and advisory councils to both capitalize on AI and mitigate risks.

4. NASCIO's Action and Recommendations

[09:21 - 12:00]

• NASCIO issued a “blueprint” with 12 elements/dimensions for state AI strategy and hosts a dedicated working group on emerging AI.

• Best Practices Emphasized: Encourage experimentation, establish strong governance and enterprise policies, focus on data quality/readiness, prioritize workforce skills, and promote transparent vendor/higher-education collaborations.

  • Quote:

  "We have said from day one that states should establish strong governance around AI adoption and they should have a regulatory framework... because it sets up guardrails and protects privacy..."
  — Doug Robinson [11:00]

• State Examples: Highlights of collaborative efforts in states like Massachusetts and Mississippi, as well as the need for open advisory meeting forums.

5. Budget and Cost Control Move Up the List

[14:16 - 16:13]

• Warning Signs: Budget and cost control ranks number three, reflecting revenue shortfalls, rising deficits, and forecasts triggering tough spending cuts, especially in IT and agency budgets.

  • Quote:

  "We've got some states that have serious major, you know, billions and billions of dollars deficit already that they're reporting... So I think it's just the reality of, yeah, early, early warning of what could certainly take place over the next six months."
  — Doug Robinson [14:45]

• Impact on IT: Budget stress may force states to backfill lost federal dollars (e.g., for cybersecurity, Medicaid) from tech spending, challenging modernization.

6. Workforce Challenges in a Tight Budget Era

[16:13 - 17:59]

• Pay Reductions & Double Budget Cuts: States like Washington face pay cuts (2–4%), harming recruitment for AI talent and putting CIOs in a “double dip” scenario, squeezed by both their own and agency budget cuts.
  • Quote:

  "The CIOs end up in the double dip because the agency is told to cut 2 to 4%, 5% whatever the budget office says. The CIOs are told the same thing."
  — Doug Robinson [16:56]

7. Accessibility and Looming Federal Compliance Deadlines

[17:59 - 20:19]

• Mandate Rush: Digital accessibility has jumped to number six due to a Department of Justice deadline in April; about 50% of states feel unprepared.

• Underfunded and Urgent: Funding is lacking despite new urgency; federal compliance action remains uncertain.

  • Quote:

  "So they've been kicking the can down the road for a long time but now they've got a federal compliance mandate... I suspect there's going to be a lot of work that needs to be done between now and the spring."
  — Doug Robinson [18:53]

8. Maturity: Why Consolidation and Cloud Have Dropped

[20:19 - 24:41]

• Not Less Important, Just Mature: Consolidation/optimization (#9) and cloud services (#10) have dropped in ranking, largely because these are now routine, mature practices for most states.

  • Quote:

  "It's just become part of the standard operating model and it's just become more mature. So it is not as high a priority again across the board."
  — Doug Robinson [20:54]

• Tight Clustering in Lower Ranks: The bottom part of the Top 10 list is highly contested—“literally one vote apart.”

9. What’s Next: Identity, Digital Credentials, and Citizen Experience

[24:41 - 27:00]

• Emerging Focus: Doug forecasts heavier action around identity and access management, tied to improving citizen digital experiences and online safety.
  • Quote:

  "I think we're going to see a lot of activity this year around identity and access management for a variety of reasons... from a standpoint of improving the citizen experience, a key aspect of improving digital services is having a robust digital credentials environment for citizens..."
  — Doug Robinson [24:59]

10. Evolution of the Top 10 List & Modernization

[27:00 - 32:00]

• Modernization Broadens: “Legacy modernization” now rolled into a broader “modernization” category, reflecting the need for both process and technology modernization.

  • Quote:

  "So Again, this is 20 years of doing this. We have different… phrases and no inflation we're using to modernize the top 10 to meet the needs of that."
  — Doug Robinson [28:41]

• Changing Service Models: Mainframe-as-a-Service, cloud migration, and broker models replace old “owner-operator” approaches.

• Anticipation for 2026: Expect continued expansion of AI in production and emergence of agentic AI, with further work on identity, modernization, and citizen-centered technology.

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• “Artificial intelligence has moved into the number one slot… But it's in a very, very swift ascension to number one… from not being on the list three years ago to being number one.”
  — Doug Robinson [01:44]

• “You've seen meaningful beyond… chatbots and virtual assistants… It’s embedded in almost every tool now that states are bringing in…”
  — Doug Robinson [03:56]

• “No, because, you know, this is the, this is the collective view... Is there some hype around that? Absolutely. Other foundational things need to be addressed, like modernization, cybersecurity, digital services, you know, they're going to have to be addressed. AI is actually supporting all of those.”
  — Doug Robinson [07:23]

• “We have said from day one that states should establish strong governance around AI adoption and they should have a regulatory framework around that… because it sets up guardrails and protects privacy…”
  — Doug Robinson [11:00]

• “We've got some states that have serious major, you know, billions and billions of dollars deficit already… So I think it's just the reality of, yeah, early, early warning of what could certainly take place over the next six months.”
  — Doug Robinson [14:45]

• “The CIOs end up in the double dip because the agency is told to cut 2 to 4%, 5% whatever the budget office says. The CIOs are told the same thing…”
  — Doug Robinson [16:56]

• “So they've been kicking the can down the road for a long time but now they've got a federal compliance mandate... I suspect there's going to be a lot of work that needs to be done between now and the spring.”
  — Doug Robinson [18:53]

• “It's just become part of the standard operating model and it's just become more mature. So it is not as high a priority again across the board.”
  — Doug Robinson [20:54]

• “I think we're going to see a lot of activity this year around identity and access management… a robust digital credentials environment for citizens…”
  — Doug Robinson [24:59]

• “We, we have different… phrases and no inflation we're using to modernize the top 10 to meet the needs of that.”
  — Doug Robinson [28:41]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• AI jumps to #1 on CIO priority list: [01:44]
• Acceleration and scale of AI adoption: [03:49 – 06:48]
• Comparison with cybersecurity — hype and real risks: [06:48 – 09:21]
• NASCIO’s blueprint and calls for governance, transparency: [09:21 – 14:16]
• Budget pressures and implications for technology spend: [14:16 – 16:13]
• Workforce recruitment struggles and the “double dip” budget crunch: [16:13 – 17:59]
• Accessibility compliance urgency: [17:59 – 20:19]
• Consolidation & cloud mature, drop in ranking: [20:19 – 24:41]
• Focus ahead on identity management and credentials: [24:41 – 27:00]
• Modernization and the evolution of service models: [27:31 – 32:00]

Overall Takeaway

The episode underscores the fast, transformative impact of AI in the public sector, pushing states beyond mere experimentation into functional, governance-driven implementation—while warning of persistent foundational challenges: cybersecurity, resource constraints, digital inclusion mandates, and modernization. The conversation offers a candid, practical roadmap for navigating 2026’s state IT landscape, urging balance between innovation and enduring operational fundamentals.