When government tech works, it usually happens quietly. But at the Google Public Sector Summit ’25, Maryland’s Department of Information Technology (DoIT) offered a rare glimpse of visible momentum. The state’s experiment with Google’s Gemini AI inside Google Workspace is now live across 59 agencies, reaching 43,000 employees—and the early results are turning heads.
Gemini Goes to Work—Government Style
Roughly 12,500 state employees are already active Gemini users, applying AI tools to draft reports, summarize policy memos, generate presentation talking points, and even build no-code chatbots that can query lengthy government documents. For agencies already using Google Workspace, the upgrade came at no additional cost—a strategic move that broadens AI adoption without inflating budgets.
The integration means nearly one-third of Maryland’s state workforce can now tap into AI assistance directly from tools like Gmail, Docs, and Sheets. This isn’t a proof-of-concept; it’s a live deployment inside government infrastructure—a significant benchmark for public sector modernization.
Beyond the Hype: Practical AI for Bureaucracy
Forget splashy “AI revolution” slogans. Maryland’s use cases are refreshingly pragmatic:
- Drafting communications – Auto-generating reports and correspondence.
- Data analysis – Mining insights from sprawling datasets.
- Information retrieval – Synthesizing material from diverse systems.
- Brainstorming – Assisting teams with policy ideation and project planning.
The goal isn’t to replace humans—it’s to handle repetitive cognitive work so state staff can focus on service delivery. “Generative AI has tremendous potential to help our workforce accomplish repetitive tasks in less time, giving them more time to serve Marylanders,” said DoIT Secretary Katie Savage.
Responsible AI, Maryland Style
Unlike many early adopters, Maryland’s rollout is tethered tightly to governance. All AI systems must comply with the State of Maryland’s Responsible Use Policy, ensuring ethical use and citizen privacy. That oversight falls under Governor Wes Moore’s AI Subcabinet, which aims to foster an AI-literate public workforce—a forward-looking move few states have formalized.
Google’s Bet on Public Sector AI
For Google, Maryland is a marquee case study. “The speed at which Maryland’s state workforce has adopted Google Workspace is a testament to their forward-thinking leadership,” said Matthew Schneider, Managing Director at Google Public Sector. “This is an incredible example of how the public sector can effectively and responsibly leverage AI.”
It’s a crucial endorsement for Google Workspace with Gemini, which competes against Microsoft 365 Copilot and OpenAI’s enterprise integrations. Where Google may have lagged in consumer buzz, the company is rapidly building trust with security-conscious government clients, an area historically dominated by Microsoft.
Why It Matters
Public sector IT transformations are often hampered by legacy systems, procurement friction, and cybersecurity constraints. Maryland’s fast-paced adoption shows that cloud-native AI doesn’t have to be confined to Silicon Valley startups—it can scale across a sprawling state bureaucracy, securely and cost-effectively.
If successful, Maryland could become a model for other states—proving that AI isn’t just a tool for tech companies, but a backbone for efficient, transparent governance.
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