California tests AI shortcut for residents tired of searching through agencies and websites
Sacramento, California – California is trying to make dealing with government feel less like searching through a maze of agencies, forms and websites. Its newest experiment puts artificial intelligence at the front door.
Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced AskCA, an AI-powered digital assistant designed to give Californians a single place to find state and local services based on what they actually need. Residents can begin signing up now to participate in the pilot at ask.ca.gov.
The idea grew from California’s response to the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, when residents navigating recovery often had to find information across multiple programs and levels of government.
“When a Californian needs help, they shouldn’t have to become an expert in government to find it,” Newsom said.
“We’re using the best technology California has to offer to make government more efficient, effective, and more engaged — meeting people where they are, making it easier to navigate services, and ultimately delivering stronger results worthy of their tax dollars.”
Built by the California Office of Data and Innovation, AskCA is intended to guide people through situations such as finding a job, starting a business, accessing family services and recovering from disasters.
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The prototype has already been tested with more than 140 fire recovery leaders and Altadena wildfire survivors, about a dozen job seekers at a CalHR job fair and more than 100 general users. State subject-matter experts are also helping refine responses so information is tied to verified sources rather than operating as a basic chatbot.
“With AskCA, the state is utilizing AI to deliver services faster, reduce administrative complexity, and connect people to the right resources without unnecessary barriers,” Government Operations Agency Secretary Nick Maduros said.
The system’s knowledge base was developed with Anthropic’s Claude model, while the California Department of Technology provided security support. U.S. Digital Response, Stanford’s RegLab and 211 are among other partners supporting testing and performance work.
AskCA will soon move into another public-facing role. On September 30, CalHR plans to use the same technology on CalCareers.ca.gov for an AI-powered job-matching feature. Users will be able to upload a resume and see state job classifications that may align with their experience.
The project follows a broader state push toward digital government. California says its Breakthrough Project has already saved $12 million through pooled IT contracts and helped digitize 40,000 water rights records.
For AskCA, however, the next stage depends partly on Californians themselves. Beta testers must be state residents and at least 18 years old, with their feedback expected to help shape how the tool works before any wider rollout.
