Illinois Governor Pritzker Establishes New Cabinet Against AI Risks

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed an executive order establishing an official artificial intelligence cabinet to prepare the state against the potential risks of artificial intelligence and protect public assets.

Duties of the AI Cabinet

Under executive order 2026-07 signed by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, the state aims to prepare for artificial intelligence-induced risks and respond to incidents.

The newly formed cabinet will work to protect critical public infrastructure, such as water systems, schools, public buildings, and information networks, from AI-based threats.

Expert Participation and Statements

Stating that they will not wait for the steps of the federal government, Governor Pritzker emphasized that warnings from the AI industry and demands for security measures must be taken into account.

The committee to be formed is planned to include experts from various fields such as law, ethics, and governance, alongside academia.

Regulations and Areas of Responsibility

The cabinet will evaluate regulations such as tying data center tax incentives to security standards, examining the load on the energy grid, and adding artificial intelligence terms to state contracts.

Additionally, whether artificial intelligence companies can be held legally liable for damages caused by their products will be put on the table.

Previous Laws and Federal Situation

This new step serves as a continuation of the Artificial Intelligence Safety Precautions Act signed by Pritzker on July 6, which mandates major developers to report security risks.

The governor's office stated that this executive order was implemented as a response to federal inaction and recent resignations in the sector.