Maryland is taking a major leap into the future of public services with a new Anthropic AI partnership designed to speed up state programs and help residents in need. Governor Wes Moore announced the initiative on Thursday, describing it as a key step toward reducing child poverty, improving housing access, and modernizing the state government.

Under this Anthropic AI partnership, state agencies will begin using Claude-powered tools to simplify complex processes, deliver benefits faster, and guide residents through applications. The AI system will help Marylanders update info, track applications, and even identify additional benefits or housing programs they may qualify for — all through a smart virtual assistant.

To roll out the technology effectively, Maryland is also teaming up with Percepta, a company spun out of Anthropic that specializes in AI-based process transformation. Their engineering team will work alongside state departments to improve permitting, streamline licensing workflows, and accelerate new housing development.

This collaboration has already been in motion. Since July, Percepta has been helping the Maryland Department of the Environment and the Maryland Digital Service test new AI tools, including a self-service portal for environmental site assessments. The state says this platform will significantly speed up project financing and site development across Maryland.

The first wave of the Anthropic AI partnership will support employees at Maryland Benefits, the Department of Labor, the Governor’s Innovation Team, and the Department of the Environment. The goal is to build a unified, responsible AI strategy across all state operations.

This move is part of Governor Moore’s broader effort to modernize government with technology. Earlier this year, he signed a sweeping executive order directing agencies to review data systems, eliminate redundancies, and improve taxpayer services. Maryland has also rolled out a bilingual AI chatbot (powered by Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet model) to reduce call center overload and help residents navigate benefits programs.

Speaking about the initiative, Governor Moore said the Anthropic AI partnership represents the kind of innovation the state needs to solve long-standing challenges.

“Artificial Intelligence can be a powerful tool for change,” Moore said. “We’re leveraging AI to fight poverty, turn renters into homeowners, and make sure every Marylander can access essential services quickly and effectively.”

With technology evolving rapidly and demand for government services growing, Maryland’s Anthropic AI partnership positions the state as one of the most forward-thinking adopters of AI in the public sector.