{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"February 13, 2026 - Ky State Senator Amanda Mays Bledsoe (UK, Kentucky, and responsible AI development)","description":"  LEXINGTON, Ky. (February 13, 2026) \u2013 Artificial intelligence is moving fast \u2014 and Kentucky lawmakers are working to make sure the state can take advantage of new tools without sacrificing transparency, privacy or public trust. On this episode of \u2018Behind the Blue\u2019, Kentucky State Senator Amanda Mays Bledsoe \u2014 a Lexington native and University of Kentucky alum \u2014 joins host Kody Kiser to talk about her path into public service, what she\u2019s hearing from constituents in Senate District 12, and how she views UK\u2019s land-grant mission of service to communities across the Commonwealth.  Bledsoe represents parts of Fayette County along with Woodford, Mercer and Boyle counties. In the conversation, she points to infrastructure \u2014 including roads and aging water and wastewater systems \u2014 as a major concern for the region, while also highlighting the role higher education, signature industries and health care play in central Kentucky\u2019s future.  The interview also explores Bledsoe\u2019s emerging leadership on technology policy, including Kentucky Senate Bill 4, which she describes as a framework for \u201cresponsible AI governance\u201d within state government. Bledsoe explains that the goal is not to regulate every minor use of technology, but to establish guardrails for higher-risk, decision-making tools \u2014 including creating transparency around where and how AI is used, and building oversight to ensure accountability.   \u201cAI is not spellcheck,\u201d Bledsoe said, emphasizing the need for stronger scrutiny when government systems generate new outputs or influence decisions. She also discusses concerns around deceptive AI-generated political content and the importance of ensuring voters can trust what they see \u2014 particularly in the final days leading up to an election.  Looking ahead, Bledsoe points to a wide range of challenges and opportunities \u2014 from consumer protection and privacy to safeguarding minors online \u2014 and says Kentucky will likely need to keep refining its approach as the technology evolves. She also describes how institutions like UK can help shape the state\u2019s AI future through research, workforce preparation and teaching students to be critical, responsible users of these tools. \u2018Behind the Blue\u2019 is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK\u2019s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university. \u2018Behind the Blue\u2019 is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show\u2019s blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here. This interview has been edited for time and clarity. ","author_name":"Behind the Blue","author_url":"http:\/\/behindtheblue.libsyn.com\/podcast","html":"