Governor Brian P. Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Horizons, Georgia’s Innovation Lab, on July 16. The event was held in downtown Atlanta at a facility provided by the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA). The lab is intended to serve as a flexible space for experimenting with ethical artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies to improve public service. The opening drew a large audience, including state officials, higher education representatives, and leaders from local government and industry.
Georgia Chief Information Officer and GTA executive director Shawnzia Thomas described the lab’s purpose: “With Governor Kemp’s leadership in inaugurating the Georgia Innovation Lab, we’ve taken a bold step toward shaping the future of public service,” she said. “This lab is our proving ground, where imagination meets implementation. It’s where we de-risk innovation, explore the frontiers of emerging technology, and design solutions that anticipate the needs of tomorrow. Georgia is not just keeping pace with change; we’re setting the course for it.”
The process to create Horizons began in November 2023 when GTA set up its Office of Artificial Intelligence and organized inter-agency working groups. Over the following 18 months, GTA led two summits that brought together more than 200 participants from academia, government, and industry to discuss priorities for AI use in state services.
Bringing the lab into operation required cooperation among several state leaders and key industry figures. Participants included Thomas; Nikhil Deshpande, Georgia’s chief digital and AI officer; Keith Perry, GTA chief development officer; Steve Hodges, Georgia CISO; Subramanian Muniasamy, GTA CTO; and Dr. Rose Procter from the University System of Georgia.
Deshpande commented on what Horizons means for GTA: “This lab stands as a beacon for what’s possible when government commits to thoughtful, ethical, and responsible innovation,” he said. “It’s not just a space to test new technologies, it’s where we explore their real-world impact, center human needs, and build trust through transparency. By providing proving ground for emerging solutions, we ensure that progress is not only rapid but also rooted in purpose and public good.”
Horizons aims to connect state agencies with cities, counties, school systems, private industry partners, and other collaborators by offering an environment where new technologies can be tested before wider deployment.
Further details about Georgia’s AI initiatives are available at the GTA Office of AI website.
