UDOT’s AI Strategy Avoids the Pacing Problem

Item #: 20260015

CONTACTS

Implementing Organization: Data Technology & Analytics
Implementation Lead: Jennifer Volkening
Development Team:
- Ethan Turner
- Marcelo Manzo
- Sean Berry
- Elida Stults
- Jen Volkening
- Nathan Lee

Article Written By: Winston Inoway
Innovation Team Coordinator: Winston Inoway

STATUS

Implementation Date: January 6, 2026
Adoption Status: Fully Implemented
Adoptability Note: Are there other fast-changing areas where a strategy/principle approach would be better than writing policy and specifications?

APPLIES TO

Topic: Artificial Intelligence
Organization(s): UDOT (all)
Job Role(s): Administrative Staff / Commissions, Business Analyst, Executive Leadership, Information Specialist, Program Director, Program Manager, Program Specialist
Tags: Active transportation, air transportation, highway transportation, public transit, railroad transportation, water transportation, employee empowerment, job satisfaction, personnel development,( simplification ), communications > public relations ( PR ), governance > auditing, policy making, procedures, compliance, law, ( legal ), information technology >> software, networks, leadership, risk management, insurance, artificial intelligence ( AI )

PROBLEM

The Pacing Problem describes a situation where technological advancements occur faster than the laws, ethics and policies to govern them. From robotics, biotech or Artificial Intelligence, technology is advancing faster than the guardrails to control it. As AI technology advances seemingly overnight and every day, UDOT leaders needed a way to provide guidance and direction while mitigating the naturally slower nature of our policymaking processes.

CHANGE

Instead of writing an Artificial Intelligence policy, UDOT leaders and members of the Data Governance Team instead choose to develop a strategy document with guiding principles to help provide employees with direction and resources in light of the fast changing nature of AI. The six-page document describes a framework for understanding the technology and how it can benefit the department with human-centered innovation. It also presents an implementation roadmap for using AI in our present and future work. The document is intended to be useful, timely, and adaptable for upcoming changes as needed.

RESULT

Consistent with the department values of RESPECT, INTEGRITY and CARING, this new strategy document “supports human judgement, fairness, and safety” at the forefront. As novel opportunities and threats arise from the technology, having documented principles will help all employees better manage and adjust to these dynamic conditions. This approach will help UDOT keep our people, places and information safe and working to the benefit of the greater community.