Zachary Boyd Appointed New Director of the Utah Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy

Mark Tullis

Apr 29, 2024 - 2 min read

April 30, 2024, Salt Lake City, Utah

The Utah Department of Commerce has appointed Dr. Zachary Boyd as the Director of the newly established Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy. Dr. Boyd brings an extensive background in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, which will help lead the state's efforts in exploring AI technologies and developing policies.

“We are excited to welcome Zachary Boyd as the Director of our new Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy,” said Margaret Busse, Utah Department of Commerce Executive Director. “Utah is pioneering the way for the responsible development and integration of AI technologies, and we can’t wait to see the work that comes out of this office under Zach’s leadership.”

Dr. Boyd is a faculty member at Brigham Young University's mathematics department, where he teaches applied and computational mathematics. Dr. Boyd’s research lab focuses on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and mathematical modeling in social science applications, such as psychology, economics, and social networks.

Before working at BYU, Dr. Boyd was a postdoctoral research associate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an NDSEG Fellow at UCLA, a research associate at Los Alamos National Laboratory, and a Presidential Scholar at BYU.

The Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy and the AI Learning Laboratory Program were created in the 2024 Legislative session with the enactment of SB149. This initiative signifies Utah's commitment to being at the forefront of AI study and collaborative regulation.

The office will consult with businesses, academic institutions, and other stakeholders to facilitate dialogue on potential regulatory proposals. The goal is to develop a regulatory landscape that fosters innovation and safeguards public safety.