Introducing the AI in Action Awards

Some of government's most important AI work is happening out of view. It’s in a pilot that will never make headlines, in a workflow you don't know exists, in a backend system you can't see.

Across the country, state, territory, and tribal governments are exploring how AI can improve how they serve the public. According to Gallup, 43% of public-sector employees now report using AI at least a few times a year — up from just 17% in 2023. They're trying things that have never been tried, and making decisions that have no precedent. Almost none of it is being acknowledged. 

Our AI in Action Awards aim to change that. 

We launched these awards because the window for learning from each other is open right now. Governments across the country are in similar places, facing similar questions. That's too valuable to leave on the table.

In that spirit, we're not just looking for polished wins. We want the full picture of what AI adoption actually looks like today—the unglamorous fixes, the half-baked pilots, the hard-won lessons, and everything in between. 

If you're a state, territory, or tribal government leader with work you're proud of, or work you learned from, we want to hear about it. Same goes for the partners, vendors, and civic tech teams supporting that work from the inside. 

Every submission helps the field see itself more clearly. That matters as much as the recognition. With permission, we'll share what we're seeing so governments everywhere can benefit from what their peers are doing. 

We have six categories designed to meet you where you are. Submissions close May 1, 2026. You can submit your entry here. We hope yours is one of them. 

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What makes a strong submission

This isn't a typical awards program, and we don't want typical submissions. To help you put your best work forward, here are a few things worth keeping in mind as you write.

Start with the problem, not the technology. The strongest submissions don't lead with what they built. They lead with why it mattered. What was broken, slow, or missing before you started? Who was affected? The clearer you are about the problem, the easier it is for reviewers to understand the value of what you did.

Tell us what actually happened. We mean this. If it worked, tell us how you know. If it didn't, tell us what you learned and what you'd do differently. Submissions that are honest about outcomes, including the messy ones, will stand out. We are not looking for success theater.

You don't need data to make a compelling case. While we love data, we know it’s not always accessible in a government environment. Impact data is helpful when you have it, but we will evaluate submissions on multiple factors, including qualitative impact, insight, and usefulness to other states.

Don't undersell the ordinary. The back-office fix that saves your team two hours a day is worth submitting. The procurement decision that protected your agency from a bad vendor is worth submitting. If it makes something meaningfully better, it counts.

If you're not sure it's enough, it probably is. We've seen what's out there. The bar is not the most impressive AI deployment in the country. The bar is: did you try something new, did you thoughtfully try and solve a problem?

Government is figuring out AI in real time. The work you're doing — however early, however imperfect — is part of the journey, and we want to celebrate and ensure others can learn from it.

We hope you'll share it.

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Have a potential submission? We want to hear from you. 

Visit centerforcivicfutures.org/ai-in-action-awards

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