Our Process
1The Challenge
The Texas State Legislature was considering multiple AI-related bills, including TRAIGA (Texas Responsible AI Governance Act) and several bills addressing AI's role in DEI-related decisions. Legislators needed technical expertise to understand what was actually feasible to regulate, what compliance would look like in practice, and whether proposed requirements were technically sound.
Key Questions We Addressed:
- Technical feasibility: Can the requirements in TRAIGA actually be implemented? What would compliance look like for different types of AI systems?
- AI in hiring & DEI: How do AI systems actually work in hiring contexts? What can and can't be audited or controlled?
- Enforcement practicality: Can state agencies realistically enforce these requirements? What would auditing look like?
- Unintended consequences: How might these bills affect Texas businesses, startups, and innovation?
2Our Approach
We provided comprehensive technical advisory services, translating complex AI concepts into actionable policy insights:
Technical Feasibility Analysis
Evaluated proposed bills for technical accuracy and practical implementation challenges, ensuring legislation was grounded in current technological realities.
Policy Impact Assessment
Analyzed potential effects on businesses, innovation ecosystems, and citizens—providing balanced perspectives on regulatory trade-offs.
Educational Briefings
Conducted technical sessions for legislative staff and committee members to build foundational understanding of AI capabilities and limitations.
Stakeholder Facilitation
Helped bridge conversations between legislators, technology companies, academics, and advocacy groups to ensure comprehensive input.
3What We Delivered
Bill-by-Bill Technical Analysis
For each AI-related bill, we provided detailed analysis covering:
- • Technical accuracy review: Did the bill correctly describe AI technologies and their capabilities?
- • Implementation pathway: What would companies need to do to comply?
- • Cost-benefit analysis: Estimated compliance costs vs. intended benefits
- • Alternative approaches: Other regulatory mechanisms that might achieve similar goals
Educational Materials
We created accessible briefing documents on key AI topics:
- • AI fundamentals: What AI can and cannot do today
- • Large language models: How ChatGPT-style systems work and their limitations
- • AI in government: Current and potential applications in state agencies
- • Risk landscape: Legitimate concerns vs. overhyped fears
4Staff Training & Capacity Building
Beyond bill analysis, we invested in building long-term AI literacy within the legislature:
- Committee briefings explaining AI technologies in plain language
- Q&A sessions where staff could ask technical questions without judgment
- Reference materials that staff can use for future AI-related legislation
- Ongoing availability to answer questions as new issues arise
5Results & Impact
Our technical guidance helped Texas legislators develop more informed AI policy:
By providing objective technical expertise, we helped ensure that Texas AI legislation reflects both the genuine opportunities and legitimate risks of these technologies—without falling into either hype or fear.
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