Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves issued Executive Order No. 1584 on Jan. 8, outlining policies for the use of artificial intelligence in state agencies. This marks the state’s first official move to address AI in governance. While the executive order signals an effort to modernize state operations, the broader implications for Mississippi’s workforce and economy remain uncertain due to the rapid emergence of AI technologies.

AI is expected to lead to considerable job displacement, but its introduction will also create new opportunities, such as the need for trainers to teach AI systems and individuals to help others navigate the technology. Despite concerns about automation, surveys of organizations suggest technological advancements, including AI, are anticipated to result in overall job growth. AI and machine-learning specialists are expected to rank among the fastest-growing occupations in the coming years.

Mississippi’s economy relies heavily on industries particularly susceptible to automation. Agriculture, the state’s largest industry, generates $8.76 billion annually and supports approximately 17.4% of the workforce, either directly or indirectly. Similarly, manufacturing employs 12.64% of the state’s workforce and produces a massive $20.13 billion in output. Both sectors are characterized by roles involving repetitive tasks, placing them among the industries with the highest potential for future automation.

Compared to more developed regions, the lack of a highly educated workforce could make it difficult to transition displaced workers into AI-related roles. Only about 24.78% of Mississippians aged 25 years and older hold a bachelor’s degree or higher — the second-lowest rate in the nation. In contrast, states including Massachusetts, where more than 40% of residents have bachelor’s degrees, benefit from a strong tech ecosystem and greater access to advanced education and training programs. A report from the Brookings Institution indicates states including Mississippi are more vulnerable to the impacts of automation due to lower levels of higher education, a concentration of at-risk industries and limited adoption of digital technology in the workplace.

When Mississippians do earn degrees, many leave the state for better opportunities, contributing to a phenomenon known as brain drain, which refers to the emigration of highly skilled or educated people in search of better job prospects. A report by the Joint Economic Committee ranks Mississippi among the states with the highest net brain drain, showing a significant gap between the number of highly educated individuals leaving versus those entering. This occurs despite the state’s relatively low overall out-migration rates, suggesting it is disproportionately educated residents leaving.

While poor governance often bears much of the blame for these challenges, public attitudes also play a role. A study from PubMed Central indicates political conservatism correlates with lower comfort with and trust in AI, largely due to an associated higher risk aversion in conservative politics. With a population that may view AI as a threat to traditional jobs, policymakers could face pushback for implementing large-scale AI initiatives. Even when efforts were made to reframe AI applications to align with conservative moral values, these attempts had minimal impact on changing conservatives’ views of AI-related risks.

What can be done to ensure Mississippi doesn’t fall behind in an AI-driven economy? It all starts with leadership — investing in workforce development and education. Mississippi needs to expand access to STEM education and provide students with early exposure to AI-related fields, including coding, data analysis and machine learning. The state should find ways to incentivize the retention of educated workers and to attract companies specializing in AI and emerging technologies to establish operations in Mississippi.

With the right investments, AI has the potential to revolutionize the workplace. Rather than replacing jobs, AI will eliminate the need for workers to perform repetitive tasks. This shift will allow companies to reduce costs and offer goods and services at lower prices. Workers will instead focus on tasks requiring human skills, such as critical thinking and problem-solving, while AI boosts efficiency and output. With committed leadership and a skilled workforce, even historically disadvantaged states including Mississippi can harness the benefits of this revolution.