ETP to pilot Microsoft Copilot, add application cap checks before May 1

Tara Armstrong, deputy director and chief information officer for the Employment Training Panel, described planned technology upgrades and the program
s approach to a cautious AI pilot. Armstrong said the agency is "developing a project plan to implement a generative AI using Microsoft Copilot" to support staff in routine tasks while maintaining security safeguards.

Armstrong also described forthcoming user-experience changes meant to reduce form length and duplicate questions; importantly, the application system will now alert applicants if a requested training plan exceeds the single-employer cap approved by the panel for the fiscal year and will require adjustment before submission. She told the panel those changes will be in place when the next application window opens May 1.

Panel members asked whether certain curriculum elements could be revised to avoid overlap with apprenticeship training; applicants and staff in several cases agreed to refine course lists to focus on noncertified installer safety and foundational knowledge rather than electrician-apprenticeship tasks.

Next steps: staff will implement the UX improvements and cap checks, and will post additional guidance for applicants.