Productivity AutomationVerified

MassDOT integrated GitHub Copilot into its internal IT department in summer 2024, giving software developers an AI tool that suggests and completes code as they write it.

Details

GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered coding assistant developed by GitHub and OpenAI that generates code suggestions in real time within developers' code editors. MassDOT's deputy CIO confirmed the rollout during a May 2025 presentation, describing it as one of the agency's early AI deployments within its IT department. The practice is limited to MassDOT IT staff who write software for the agency's systems.

Products affected

MassDOT IT internal software development

Sources & Evidence

Company Disclosure

AI is Here to Stay – Anu Goutham MassDOT MAY 6-7, 2025

UMass Transportation Center (MassDOT presentation slides)·May 2025

https://www.umasstransportationcenter.org/Document.asp?DocID=1475

Other practices by Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT)

Data AnalysisMassDOT tested an AI framework developed with UMass Lowell that analyzes aerial photographs to automatically detect and classify crosswalks across the entire state of Massachusetts, identifying approximately 88,000 crosswalks in 2021 imagery.ProductivityMassDOT deployed HEKA (Highway Engineer Knowledge Assistant), an internal AI chatbot that helps highway engineers quickly find answers to questions about project rules, regulations, and design specifications. The tool went live in November 2024 and is used daily by engineers across the Highway Division.Data AnalysisMassDOT tested machine learning combined with GIS mapping to build a model that identifies roads with the highest concentrations of serious crashes, known as a High-Injury Network (HIN).

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