July 23, 2025

Georgia Innovation Lab officially opens

The ribbon was cut by Governor Brian Kemp.
The ribbon was cut by Governor Kemp. From left: Georgia CIO and GTA executive director Shawnzia Thomas, Office of Governor Kemp COO Dr. Russell Crutchfield, deputy CISO Alex Kirkland, director of government relations Cameron Fash, Governor Kemp, USG associate director for ethics and compliance Dr. Rose Procter, chief development officer Keith Perry, CTO Subramanian Muniasamy, First Lady Marty Kemp, chief digital and AI officer Nikhil Deshpande, general counsel Anh Le, executive staff advisor Trinity Mosley, and CISO Steve Hodges.
Photo by Deborah Rollins, GTA Office of Communications and Marketing.

Governor Brian P. Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp joined the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) on Wednesday, July 16, to cut the ribbon at the grand opening of Horizons, Georgia's Innovation Lab. The new lab, a flexible space designed for the experimentation of ethical artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies aimed at advancing public service, is in downtown Atlanta, utilizing space provided by GTA. The ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony drew a standing-room-only crowd, highlighting widespread excitement among state officials, members of Georgia's higher education community, and local government and industry leaders.

Georgia CIO and GTA executive director Shawnzia Thomas emphasized the lab's transformative potential. "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 stated. "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."

A vision realized

The journey to create the lab began in November 2023, when GTA established the Office of Artificial Intelligence and formed inter-agency working groups. The intervening 18 months saw significant preparatory work, including two summits that convened over 200 leaders from academia, government, and industry, as well as numerous smaller gatherings.

Georgia CIO and GTA executive director Shawnzia Thomas and Georgia chief digital and AI officer Nikhil Deshpande (left) speak with Governor Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp (right) at the ribbon cutting and grand opening.
Georgia CIO and GTA executive director Shawnzia Thomas and Georgia chief digital and AI officer Nikhil Deshpande (left) speak with Governor Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp (right) at the ribbon cutting and grand opening.
Photo by Annalise Morning, Office of Governor Brian Kemp.

Bringing the lab to fruition involved close collaboration between state leaders and key industry figures, including Thomas, Georgia chief digital and AI officer Nikhil Deshpande, GTA chief development officer Keith Perry, Georgia CISO Steve Hodges, GTA CTO Subramanian Muniasamy, and University System of Georgia associate director for ethics and compliance Dr. Rose Procter, all of whom were present at the opening.

Dr. Rose Procter, a member of the Georgia AI advisory council, serves as the associate director for ethics and compliance within the Office of Internal Audit, Ethics, and Compliance at the University System of Georgia and executive director of the TRUIST Center for Ethical Leadership at the Mike Cottrell College of Business, University of North Georgia.
Dr. Rose Procter, a member of the Georgia AI advisory council, serves as the associate director for ethics and compliance within the Office of Internal Audit, Ethics, and Compliance at the University System of Georgia and executive director of the TRUIST Center for Ethical Leadership at the Mike Cottrell College of Business, University of North Georgia.
Photo by Sarah Torres, GTA Office of Communications and Marketing.

Fostering innovation and collaboration

For GTA, the lab represents a significant opportunity to advance its core mission. "This lab stands as a beacon for what's possible when government commits to thoughtful, ethical, and responsible innovation," said Deshpande. "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."

The lab's primary goal is to serve as a nexus for Georgia state agencies, cities, counties, school systems, industry leaders, and other collaborators. It offers a low-risk, hands-on environment to test technologies before deployment, fostering adoption through collaboration and transparency.

For more information about Georgia's AI program and Horizons, visit the GTA Office of AI website.