Journal Staff
As artificial intelligence transforms industries and governments around the world, Guam is moving forward with a multi-sector plan to embrace the technology while protecting the island’s people, economy, and values.
“So, you know, AI is a really powerful tool in terms of any industry, but catering towards marketing, a lot of people use it in the wrong way in terms of captioning,” Miller said. “If you utilize AI entirely, you’ll be at a lower standpoint than the others … the algorithm is just going to push you deeper and deeper into irrelevant topics where people aren’t even looking at your posting.”
Instead, Miller advises using AI as a starting point, not the final product. “You can use AI to give you ideas and set a framework, but you can’t use it to 100% cover all of the people,” he said. “You want to be as unique as possible. That’s what a lot of the algorithms, not only on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn—anywhere—are looking for.”
Miller encourages businesses to treat AI as a brainstorming partner, not a replacement for creativity.
He utilizes the CARE method for better AI use, Content, Action, Results, and Evaluation. “You want to give it context,” he explained. “What type of work are you trying to do? Are you a marketer? Are you a manager? And then evaluation is where you add in the human piece, which is always important.”
In addition to AI, Miller pointed to tools like the Meta Business Suite to optimize social media campaigns. “The wonders of the Meta Business Suite, it’ll help you out so much,” he said. “It’ll tell you when your customers are on there.”
He explained that the Meta Dashboard’s audience ads can reach up to 80% of a target audience, and businesses should tailor their approach based on their audience’s habits.
“You want to give (AI) context,” he explained. “What type of work are you trying to do? Tell them exactly what you’re doing. Are you a marketer? Are you a manager? What exactly are you asking me to do? Are you asking me to write a sentence? A structured result? And then evaluation is where you add in the human piece, which is always important.”
Miller said, “I always get my highest numbers for uniqueness, but in terms of efficiency … it helps exponentially,” he said. “So, if you can find a way to make ChatGPT do all the work for you and you just add little human essences into it, it’ll save you like two hours.”
AI isn’t the only factor in digital marketing success, timing and platform choice also matter. “Are you a lifestyle company? Maybe your age range is from 16 to 30,” he said. “Are they online on a Monday or would you say on a Friday? I would say a Friday, personally … But that’s where Meta Business Suite kind of closes the deal for you and shows you what that data is actually telling you.”
“Artificial intelligence presents a remarkable opportunity for Guam to overcome economic and social hurdles,” Taitague said. “AI offers modern technological tools which can fill critical gaps in our workforce by streamlining operations and increasing productivity.”
The proposed 11-member task force would include representatives from all three branches of government, the private sector, and academia. Its mission: build a framework that fosters innovation without compromising constitutional protections or individual rights.
“This bill takes a responsible approach by bringing together representatives and experts to create policies that promote innovation and operational efficiency while safeguarding privacy, due process, and economic interests,” Taitague said.
Taitague’s bill comes at a time when more than 450 AI-related bills were introduced across U.S. states in 2024—but only about 40 became law, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Taitague believes that Guam must act swiftly to prepare.
“It’s clear that this technology is developing by the day, and we have yet to fully understand the impacts AI will have as we continue to modernize our government functions,” she said.
The push for AI oversight was recently underscored by Docomo Pacific, which issued a public service announcement on March 12, warning residents of AI-driven scam calls that use deepfake voice technology to mimic family members.
Taitague stressed the need for strong AI safeguards to prevent abuse. “Without the right safeguards, AI usage can pose significant risks,” she said. “Bill 64 makes sure that Guam stays ahead of the curve by creating policies that protect our people while improving current government processes and systems.”
If passed, the task force would automatically dissolve after two years unless renewed by law.
“The government of Guam is actively pursuing the integration of Artificial Intelligence to enhance public services and strengthen cybersecurity defenses,” Lujan said. “However, we are cognizant of the evolving threat landscape and the inherent challenges associated with AI adoption.”
Guam’s urgency stems from events like the 2023 Volt Typhoon cyberattack, where a China-backed hacking group targeted the island’s telecom infrastructure. Since then, GovGuam has adopted AI-driven threat detection, strengthened federal partnerships, and implemented Zero Trust Architecture.
“We envision AI for public safety through predictive analytics, healthcare diagnostics, and improved permitting processes,” Lujan said.
AI is also already being used for anomaly detection, vulnerability scanning, and threat intelligence in government systems, but Lujan acknowledged risks such as AI-powered malware, deepfakes, and automated phishing campaigns.
Transparency is a top concern. “We are committed to implementing Explainable AI, conducting independent audits, and ensuring clear accountability,” he said.
Explainable AI or XAI is a set of processes and methods that allow human users to comprehend and trust the results and output created by machine learning algorithms. XAI is used to describe an AI model, its expected impact, and potential biases.
GovGuam’s current AI Use Policy is published at otech.guam.gov/policies and provides ethical and operational guidelines for AI use across government agencies.
Under the policy, all GovGuam employees who interact with AI systems must receive training focused on ethical and responsible use. The policy also stresses the importance of using accurate data, applying sound judgment when acting on AI recommendations, and clearly communicating with the public about AI’s role in government services.
Employees are required to stay alert for potential bias in AI-generated outputs and report any concerns.
Prohibited uses include employing AI systems for discriminatory or unethical purposes, misrepresenting or manipulating AI outputs, violating citizen privacy, or using AI to make decisions that should involve human oversight.
“This policy aims to ensure that all GovGuam employees use AI technologies responsibly and ethically in the service of the people of Guam,” the document states. “By adhering to these guidelines, we can maximize the benefits of AI while minimizing potential risks and ensuring public trust.”
The policy will be reviewed and updated regularly to keep up with advances in AI and evolving best practices.
The University of Guam is also focusing efforts to shape the island’s AI future, both through policy and curriculum. Dr. Sharleen Santos-Bamba, UOG’s senior vice president and Provost, has led campus-wide efforts to prepare students and faculty for the AI era.
“My guidance to faculty has been… we need to prepare our students for the use of AI,” Santos-Bamba said. “Because if we don’t, if we say it’s not allowed, we are doing them a disservice when they enter the workforce.”
To guide policy, UOG formed an 18-member ad hoc task force representing various academic and research units. The university also launched a master’s in data science program, developed in response to community needs for analytics and data expertise.
“We started it last fall… It’s a master’s program that was born out of the mathematics program,” Santos-Bamba said. “Public health, all these different agencies have been coming to the university, ‘We need help with analytics. We need help analyzing our data.”
Looking ahead, UOG is exploring courses in AI ethics and expanding international partnerships, especially in Taiwan and Japan.
“I was in Taiwan a few months ago, and they’re doing amazing things with technology, with AI,” she said. “We have agreements with several universities in Taiwan… Our students don’t want to go too far away, and flying to Taiwan or Japan is so much cheaper. And the education is top-notch.”
Santos-Bamba said AI’s potential is vast but requires a disciplined approach. “At some point, we’ve got to stop and put the blinders on and move forward,” she said. “Because things rapidly change… but we have to be intentional about the research that we’re doing and bring it to a conclusion.”
As UOG continues its AI initiatives, Santos-Bamba said she plans to offer more AI training and leverage national organizations to bring expertise to the university.
“And so, getting faculty to buy in; I can’t require everything, right?” she said. “But what I can do and what I continue to do is make these opportunities available to them.”
Whether through policymaking, education, or enterprise, stakeholders agree that Guam must move forward with caution and purpose. “Artificial intelligence is a powerful tool,” Taitague said. “But we must ensure that AI applications serve the people of Guam without compromising our rights, privacy, and due process.” mbj