Mary Dickinson appointed to co-chair Maine AI Task Force

(Bar Harbor, Maine – Jan. 31, 2025) – Gov. Janet Mills has appointed Mary Dickinson, Ph.D., executive vice president and chief scientific officer at The Jackson Laboratory (JAX), to serve as co-chair of Maine’s newly established Artificial Intelligence Task Force. The task force, created by executive order in December 2024, will provide critical guidance on AI-related opportunities and challenges facing the state. 

Dickinson, who oversees JAX’s research enterprise, will bring her expertise to the task force alongside co-chair David Daigler, president of the Maine Community College System. Together, they will help steer discussions on AI’s role in Maine’s workforce, economic growth, and public services while ensuring protections for residents against potential risks. 

“It is an honor to be appointed to co-chair this important initiative,” said Dickinson. “Artificial intelligence, when used appropriately, has the potential to be a strong catalyst for Maine’s innovation economy. It is essential that we proactively explore how AI and related technologies will help us model answers to questions that drive our state’s researchers, entrepreneurs, and educators.”    

JAX researchers are poised to realize the power of AI to enhance their exploration of the genetic and genomic mechanisms that drive human health and through Dickinson’s leadership, help advance the goals of the task force. Over the past year, JAX has used AI to make important discoveries, including smart mouse houses and new tools for genetic therapies.  

The task force, composed of leaders from both the public and private sectors, will focus on three key areas: 

• Preparing Maine’s Economy & Workforce: Addressing AI-driven changes in job markets and workforce development. 

• Protecting Residents from AI Risks: Ensuring data privacy, mitigating bias in AI systems, and promoting transparency.  

• Optimizing AI for Public Services: Exploring AI-driven solutions to improve efficiency and service delivery across state agencies and municipalities. 

The task force, led by the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, will meet monthly, and began with a virtual kickoff meeting on, Jan. 31, and will present policy recommendations to the governor and legislature in October. 

About The Jackson Laboratory

The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution with a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center and nearly 3,000 employees. Its mission is to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the global biomedical community in the shared quest to improve human health. For more information, please visit www.jax.org.

JAX media contact: Cara McDonough, [email protected], 919-696-3854