This Week in Government Technology – November 24th – December 1st, 2024
State-Level Updates
Arizona Updates AI Policies
Arizona has updated its AI use policies based on insights from a state-wide survey of government employees’ technology usage. The revised policies prioritize modernizing the state’s data infrastructure to enable system-level AI integration across agencies while aligning with how employees are currently utilizing the technology.
Survey on Local Government AI Readiness
The Public Technology Institute published a survey examining AI adoption among municipal and county IT leaders. Findings include:
- 38% of respondents feel unprepared to implement AI due to security, privacy, and skill-related obstacles.
- 53% are developing AI governance frameworks.
- 29% are collaborating with universities or industry experts for implementation.
- 7% are creating AI-related job recruiting strategies.
Insights from Georgia and Texas
State CIOs from Georgia and Texas shared updates on their AI efforts, In Georgia, the state’s CIO discussed the “AI Lab,” a state-funded technology center for developing AI solutions tailored to government needs, and the challenges in modernizing data infrastructure. The Texas AI Advisory Council has been working with city and county governments, police departments, and academic experts to formulate AI policy recommendations.
Federal-Level Updates
AI Policy Direction Under New Administration
A recent AP report analyzed the incoming Trump administration’s potential approach to AI. The article highlights moments where President Elect Donald Trump and his advisors, including Elon Musk, have expressed both enthusiasm and caution about AI’s potential, leaving questions about future federal regulation and bipartisan legislative efforts.
DOJ Calls for Updated AI Governance
The Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General has recommended revising its 2020 AI governance policy. The update aims to address new challenges posed by the evolving AI landscape, particularly regarding legal and judicial applications.
US AI Safety Institute Task Force
The US AI Safety Institute, under the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), has launched a task force to test AI models deployed in national security contexts. The initiative focuses on assessing risks to critical infrastructure and data security.
Global Updates
UK Mandates AI Transparency
The UK government announced a mandatory requirement for all government offices to register their use of AI in public records, aligning with a “pro-innovation approach” to regulation. However, only nine use cases have been registered to date, raising questions about the government’s commitment to transparency.
EU Implements AI Act
The European Union has begun enforcing its comprehensive AI regulatory law, the European Artificial Intelligence Act. The legislation mandates safety and impact evaluations for AI used in government contexts. Statescoop reported challenges faced by EU research organizations in standardizing evaluation criteria for diverse AI applications.