Governor Brian P. Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp joined the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) on July 16 for the official opening of Horizons, Georgia’s Innovation Lab, in downtown Atlanta. The new facility is intended as a flexible space for testing ethical artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies that could improve public services across the state.
The event drew a large crowd of state officials, members of higher education, and leaders from local government and industry. Governor Kemp cut the ribbon at the ceremony, joined by key figures including 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, USG associate director for ethics and compliance Dr. Rose Procter, chief development officer Keith Perry, CTO Subramanian Muniasamy, chief digital and AI officer Nikhil Deshpande, general counsel Anh Le, executive staff advisor Trinity Mosley, and CISO Steve Hodges.
Shawnzia Thomas highlighted the significance of this initiative: “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 said. “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.”
The creation process for Horizons began in November 2023 when GTA established its Office of Artificial Intelligence and set up inter-agency working groups to guide development. Over 18 months leading up to the launch included two summits with more than 200 participants from academia, government agencies, and private industry as well as several smaller meetings.
Key collaborators in establishing Horizons include Thomas; Nikhil Deshpande; Keith Perry; Steve Hodges; Subramanian Muniasamy; and Dr. Rose Procter from the University System of Georgia.
Nikhil Deshpande commented on GTA’s mission: “This lab stands as a beacon for what’s possible when government commits to thoughtful, ethical, and responsible innovation,” he said. “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.”
Horizons aims to connect state agencies with cities, counties, school systems and industry partners by offering a low-risk environment to test technology before wider use.
For further details about Georgia’s AI program or Horizons lab operations visit GTA’s Office of AI website.