Alaskans are not afraid of technology. We use it every day, but we are rightly cautious when government power is quietly delegated to artificial intelligence.

That’s why a procurement issued last fall by the State of Alaska deserves public attention – not because it mentions artificial intelligence, but because of what it authorizes AI to do.

WHAT IS ALASKA PROPOSING?

The state wants to embed “agentic artificial intelligence” into the myAlaska app – not just to answer questions, but to act on behalf of users.

To be clear, the myAlaska app is the official mobile companion to the State of Alaska’s myAlaska platform, which serves as a secure single sign-on and electronic signature system for citizens. It allows Alaskans to access and manage a variety of state government services through one unified account, using a single username and password. Launched in 2025, the app lets users access myriad state services such as PFD applications, DMV records, retirement benefits, public assistance, vaccine records, job applications, various state permits and much more. It essentially serves as a one-stop digital portal for government interactions with the public.

Rather than have humans deal with Alaskans’ questions and problems, the state wants a company to create a system that can:

— Autonomously complete multi-step government transactions

— Interact directly with legacy state systems

— Conduct eligibility checks

— Retrieve and exchange documents across agencies

— Learn from user behavior

— Proactively recommend services

— Use voice and biometric inputs

— Store digital credentials

In plain English, the AI would be acting on behalf of the state, not just serving the public. That is a fundamental shift in how government power is exercised.

EFFICIENCY IS NOT AUTHORITY

No Alaskan voted to replace human judgment with automated judgment, and no statute authorizes an algorithm to:

— Decide eligibility for benefits or services

— Trigger downstream legal or financial consequences

— Function as a government agent

A computer cannot swear an oath, be cross-examined or weigh fairness or context. And it cannot be held personally accountable, yet this system is being designed to act proactively on behalf of state government.

DUE PROCESS DOESN’T DISAPPEAR IN AN APP

Under both the U.S. Constitution and the Alaska Constitution, citizens are guaranteed:

— Notice

— A human decision-maker

— An opportunity to be heard

If an AI system flags an application, denies eligibility, or delays access, who made that decision – and how does an Alaskan appeal it?

Consent buried in a phone screen is not due process. Automation does not override constitutional protections.

ALASKA’S PRIVACY RIGHTS ARE STRONGER – AND EASIER TO VIOLATE

Alaska’s Constitution explicitly protects the right to privacy. That matters when a single government app aggregates data across multiple agencies, learns from personal behavior, uses voice and biometric inputs and makes proactive recommendations.

Even well-intended systems can become digital general warrants if they are not strictly limited by law. Once built, such systems are difficult to control.

It’s also reasonable to ask about how this proposal impacts due process guarantees, mandatory human review, clear appeal rights, legislative authorization, limits on automated discretion, transparency and public oversight.

COMMON SENSE BOTTOM LINE

Alaskans want government services to work and we welcome modernization. But efficiency does not excuse the constitution. Before Alaska automates government action, the state must answer one simple question: Who holds the power – and how do Alaskans hold them accountable?

Once government authority is automated, getting it back will be much harder than clicking “I agree.”

The views expressed here are those of the author.

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