California has partnered with Anthropic to provide its government agencies with access to the AI chatbot Claude at a discounted price, aiming to increase efficiency and productivity. This deal allows state employees to utilize Claude for tasks such as drafting documents and analyzing information, while also receiving training and support from Anthropic. The partnership is part of Governor Newsom’s effort to accelerate the use of AI in government, with a focus on maintaining safety standards and responsible use. Why it matters: this collaboration sets a precedent for state-level AI adoption and highlights the growing divide between state and federal approaches to AI regulation and deployment.