The state of Maryland partners with Anthropic to better serve residents (www.anthropic.com)

Maryland announced a statewide partnership with Anthropic to deploy its Claude AI models across multiple agencies to streamline public services for over six million residents. Key deployments include a Claude-powered virtual assistant to help people apply for SNAP, Medicaid, WIC and other benefits (and surface additional programs they qualify for), tools to speed verification of some 150,000 monthly documents so caseworkers can validate eligibility and get policy guidance faster, an AI upskilling pilot for early-career workers in priority industries, and a data/analysis tool to identify local unmet needs like fresh food or childcare for community leaders. The move builds on an existing bilingual Claude chatbot that already serves roughly 600,000 SUN Bucks recipients and reduced call-center volume. Technically, Maryland emphasizes responsible, safety-tested AI governance—Anthropic highlights rigorous safety testing and alignment with state AI principles—making Claude a candidate for sensitive government workflows such as benefits adjudication and document automation. The program, developed with partners including the Rockefeller Foundation and Percepta, is positioned as a replicable model for other states seeking to boost access, efficiency and data-driven local planning while managing risk.