Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson. (GeekWire File Photo)

Eighteen should be a lot more manageable than 42.

That’s one of the takeaways from the announcement Friday morning of the members of Washington state’s new Artificial Intelligence Task Force, which was significantly downsized as part of the legislative process after Attorney General Bob Ferguson proposed the group in December.

“The task force will convene technology experts, industry representatives, labor organizations, civil liberty groups and other stakeholders to discuss AI benefits and challenges,” the AG’s office said in a news release, explaining that the group “will issue findings, guiding principles, and submit reports with policy recommendations.”

Here are the 18 members as announced by Ferguson this morning.

  • Sen. Joe Nguyen, D-White Center
  • Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick
  • Rep. Clyde Shavers, D-Clinton
  • A member of the House Republican Caucus to be determined
  • Sheri Sawyer, Deputy Director of Policy & Outreach, Governor’s Office
  • Rick Talbert, Senior Project Advisor, Auditor’s Office
  • Katy Ruckle, State Chief Privacy Officer, Washington Technology Solutions
  • Dr. Magdalena Balazinska, Director, Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington
  • Kelly Fukai, Vice President of Government and Community Affairs, Washington Technology Industry Association
  • Ryan Harkins, Senior Director of Public Policy, Microsoft
  • Dr. Tee Sannon, Technology Policy Program Director, ACLU-Washington
  • Vicky Tamaru, buildJUSTLY
  • Paula Sardinas, WA Build Back Black Alliance
  • Leah Koshiyama, Senior Director of Responsible AI & Tech, Salesforce
  • Crystal Leatherman, Washington Retail Association
  • Montana Miranda, Senior Manager of Government Affairs, Washington Hospitality Association
  • Cherika Carter, Secretary Treasurer, Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO
  • Chief Darrell Lowe, Redmond Police Department

The smaller size reflects lessons from Washington state’s past blockchain working group, which was never able to meet due in part to the challenge of coordinating the schedules of its more than 40 members.

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