The state should harness the power of artificial intelligence to better assist Californians facing food insecurity and other socio-economic challenges, the Little Hoover Commission concluded in a new report.
The report, Artificial Intelligence, Food Insecurity, and California’s Vulnerable Populations, provides recommendations for utilizing AI tools to combat food insecurity. These include using AI to increase access to food aid programs, reduce enrollment barriers, break down government silos, and streamline administrative tasks. The report also offers a broad framework for leveraging AI to support disadvantaged communities on other issues.
The new report notes that nearly a quarter of all eligible Californians do not enroll in CalFresh, the state’s biggest food assistance program. The enrollment rate also varies dramatically across different areas of the state.
“Around 25% of those who are eligible for CalFresh aren’t enrolled. If a business missed 25% of its customers no one would call it a success,” said Commission Chair Pedro Nava. “The term ‘food insecurity’ is too sterile. To me it means kids going without breakfast and maybe dinner. We can do better. California is a leader in artificial intelligence, and we must apply AI to feed California families.”
In addition to using AI to increase access to and efficiency of food assistance programs, the new report recommends finding AI-based solutions to help overcome language and cultural barriers for non-English speakers and immigrants. According to the report, the state should also explore ways to utilize AI to tackle other challenges facing vulnerable populations.
“California is facing an unprecedented affordability crisis with a widening wealth gap. It is the state’s imperative to ensure families are maximizing existing health and safety programs — particularly in underserved and marginalized communities,” said Commissioner José Atilio Hernández, who served on the subcommittee for the study. “We designed these recommendations to center around equity and access to help struggling families transition out of hunger.”
The new report also recommends the state establish a Food Security Council to help coordinate and oversee the efforts of the many departments and levels of government responsible for addressing food insecurity.
The Commission held a series of hearings earlier this year on the use of artificial intelligence in state government. Commissioners heard testimony from academic experts, state and county health agencies, and the tech industry on many issues, including how AI can help address food insecurity. Earlier this month, the Commission released another report, Artificial Intelligence and California State Government, which provides recommendations on how the state can safely and effectively integrate AI into government operations.