This Week in Government Technology – October 6th – 13th, 2024
MITRE’s AI Sandbox and FedScoop’s AI Report
MITRE has launched a Federal AI Sandbox to advance the development of AI tools for specific agency missions. The Sandbox will serve as a testing ground for select models, refining their performance in a secure, expert-informed environment. Among the first projects in the Sandbox is an AI tool designed to improve Medicare sustainability, showcasing the potential for AI to enhance public services.
FedScoop published a detailed analysis of 29 federal agency reports submitted to President Biden on the status of AI implementation. The report identifies the following critical challenges faced by federal agencies:
- Poor data quality and inadequate data management programs
- Under-skilled workforces lacking AI expertise
- Insufficient technology for testing and evaluating AI tools
Federal Agencies Prioritize Responsible AI Adoption and Governance
At NVIDIA’s AI Summit, the Chief AI Officer of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency emphasized the importance of human oversight in AI adoption. He urged federal agencies to ensure persistent human involvement to monitor and guide AI systems responsibly.
In other federal developments, the General Services Administration has announced that it will enhance the federal digital login platform, Login.gov, with optional AI-enabled facial recognition. Agencies will be able to adopt this feature based on their specific needs.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is also taking steps to expand its AI capabilities. It recently issued a Request for Information seeking partners to help develop comprehensive AI governance frameworks, ensuring responsible integration as AI becomes more central to its operations.
New York and Tennessee Focus on AI Collaboration and Automation
In state news, Governor Kathy Hochul of New York unveiled the formation of the Empire State Consortium, a group of seven research institutions dedicated to studying the safe application of AI across science, medicine, government, and other sectors. This collaborative effort aims to leverage shared resources to advance both state and national AI goals.
In Tennessee, the state CIO shared updates on the progress of AI adoption during an interview this week. The CIO highlighted the success of a recent AI vendor day, which showcased technologies from 23 vendors. As the state evaluates which solutions to pursue, it is also expanding its use of robotic process automation (RPA). RPA has already proven to be a valuable tool, driving significant cost savings across state agencies.
Connecticut Senator Leads Effort to Coordinate State AI Regulations
Connecticut State Senator James Maroney, a leader in AI regulation, is spearheading efforts to form a national coalition of state-level lawmakers focused on AI policy. With the absence of a unified federal framework, Maroney aims to align state regulations to avoid a “patchwork” legal landscape, where differing AI laws across states could complicate compliance and innovation. His goal is for states to collaborate on passing consistent policies, ensuring a more cohesive approach to AI regulation nationwide.
NASCIO Insights: AI Use Cases and Implementation Challenges
At the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) conference, StateTech published brief interviews with state CIOs highlighting the opportunities and challenges of AI adoption. These conversations provide a snapshot of how state leaders are navigating AI technology, with videos covering:
AI in Disaster Relief: U.S. Military’s AI Strategy in Hurricane Response
StateScoop reports that AI played a pivotal role in the U.S. military’s response to Hurricane Helene. AI-driven tools were utilized to manage resources effectively and target the most impacted communities, enabling swift and strategic relief efforts.