This Week in Government Technology – September 15th-22nd, 2024

State and Local AI Adoption

EY recently released a nationwide survey revealing that state and local agencies are lagging behind their federal counterparts in adopting AI technologies. The survey found that only 51% of state and local agencies use AI daily, compared to 64% of federal agencies. It also highlighted the major challenges to wider AI adoption, including a lack of governance and ethical frameworks, inadequate data infrastructure, and uncertainty about which AI tools best meet local needs.

These obstacles took center stage at the Digital Benefits Conference hosted by the Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation. Leaders from local and state governments discussed how the absence of proper governance and data quality programs is holding back AI advancements in public benefit programs.

Indiana’s AI Innovations

Indiana stood out this week with two major AI-related announcements. The state has become one of the first to implement a generative AI chatbot on its official website, designed to guide users through state services and programs. Officials emphasized the importance of rigorous safety testing, mindful of lessons learned from previous AI missteps in other regions, like New York City.

Additionally, Indiana announced its plans to integrate an AI assistant into the “Pivot” software, a tool that connects job seekers with resources across six state agencies. The AI will help tailor recommendations for job seekers, though concerns about the need for a robust data quality program remain.

Federal AI Updates

In Washington, the Committee on House Administration and the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer introduced a House-wide policy for safely deploying AI. This framework includes ethical guidelines and approved use cases, ensuring responsible AI use by House members and offices.

Meanwhile, a new bill progressing through the Senate could require federal agencies to designate officials to oversee service delivery improvements, including leveraging AI to enhance government efficiency.

However, not all federal AI developments are being met with optimism. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights chair raised concerns about the risks associated with AI-driven facial recognition technologies, calling for federal oversight to prevent civil rights violations. Senators Chuck Schumer and Ed Markey echoed these concerns in a letter to the White House, urging the establishment of civil rights offices in federal agencies using AI for significant decision-making.

AI Safety on the Global Stage

President Biden announced plans for an international AI Safety Summit in San Francisco post-election, where government leaders and experts from the U.S. and the EU will gather to discuss unified AI safety policies. This signals an increasing push toward global cooperation on AI governance.

AI Legislation

Government Technology took a deep dive into the 120+ AI-related bills currently making their way through Congress. Most of these focus on AI’s applications in science, commerce, and defense, with few addressing the need for governance or regulatory frameworks to curb algorithmic bias in the public and private sectors.

In California, debate continues over a broad AI regulatory bill. An op-ed published by Government Technology urged Governor Newsom to embrace regulation now, even if imperfect, and refine the law as the state gains more practical experience with AI technologies.