Inside the State Department’s AI Surge: 50,000 Users, AI Champions, and the Rise of Beacon

State Department CIO Kelly Fletcher says the department has reached a major milestone in its AI journey, with more than 50,000 users actively leveraging State Chat, the department’s generative AI platform. After initially focusing on adoption, the department now concentrates on helping employees maximize value and use AI more effectively. Fletcher describes how employees create custom GPTs to support meetings, information sharing, and mission activities. To accelerate adoption, the department establishes an AI Champions program that empowers trained users to share successful practices across embassies and offices. The department also develops a model garden that enables experimentation with multiple AI models and supports future cost optimization efforts. Beyond AI, Fletcher discusses Tech for Life, now entering its third year. The initiative allows employees to keep devices as they move between assignments, simplifying technology management while supporting a globally distributed workforce.