February 13, 2026 - Ky State Senator Amanda Mays Bledsoe (UK, Kentucky, and responsible AI development)

 LEXINGTON, Ky. (February 13, 2026) – Artificial intelligence is moving fast — 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 ‘Behind the Blue’, Kentucky State Senator Amanda Mays Bledsoe — a Lexington native and University of Kentucky alum — joins host Kody Kiser to talk about her path into public service, what she’s hearing from constituents in Senate District 12, and how she views UK’s 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 — including roads and aging water and wastewater systems — as a major concern for the region, while also highlighting the role higher education, signature industries and health care play in central Kentucky’s future. 

The interview also explores Bledsoe’s emerging leadership on technology policy, including Kentucky Senate Bill 4, which she describes as a framework for “responsible AI governance” 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 — including creating transparency around where and how AI is used, and building oversight to ensure accountability.  

“AI is not spellcheck,” 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 — particularly in the final days leading up to an election. 

Looking ahead, Bledsoe points to a wide range of challenges and opportunities — from consumer protection and privacy to safeguarding minors online — 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’s AI future through research, workforce preparation and teaching students to be critical, responsible users of these tools.

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‘Behind the Blue’ 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’s blog page. 

To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

This interview has been edited for time and clarity.