Tech

The Rise of the Chief AI Officer

In the year since the White House required agencies to name a CAIO, the people holding those positions have been responsible for many efforts and innovations that draw on advances in artificial intelligence.

Tech

HHS looks to balance use of clinical data in AI with safety, bias considerations

The agency’s acting chief artificial intelligence officer discussed the future of AI in healthcare delivery.

Tech

Senate Dems ask OMB for more regulations, support to mitigate algorithm bias

Sens. Ed Markey and Chuck Schumer are seeking updated guidance and organizational structures to prevent artificial intelligence from discrimination.

Tech

As wildfires burn throughout the West, officials are turning to AI

In California, fire officials began using artificial intelligence last year to scan cameras for smoke.

Tech

White House leads public-private commitment to curb AI-based sexually abusive material

Leading private sector companies signed voluntary agreements with the White House to train and monitor their AI models to avoid such misuse.

Tech

Agencies have met all AI mandates for management and talent, watchdog says

The Government Accountability Office said agencies’ compliance with 13 key AI benchmarks in the 2023 executive order “is likely to increase AI expertise in high-priority areas quickly and more efficiently.”

Tech

NSF launches AI-driven biotech research program

The National Science Foundation is funding five projects within its new BioFoundries program, which aims to use artificial intelligence to accelerate research in biosciences.

Tech

AI can help FOIA offices combat onslaught of bot-powered requests, report says

According to a report from software firm OPEXUS, 93% of FOIA officers believe “AI has a key role to play in helping to review, sort and deduplicate requests.”

Tech

Energy Department unveils its green resource hub for AI-based grid demand

The new online resource is the latest step Energy has taken to match the pace of green energy transitions with growing electricity needs from artificial intelligence applications.

Tech

Energy Department wants to use AI to speed up permitting

The hope is that helping feds dive into historical environmental documents creates efficiencies and better outcomes.

Tech

DARPA edges closer to using AI to expose cyber vulnerabilities

Next year, seven teams will compete to polish off a best-case model that meshes AI and cybersecurity to detect and fix open-source vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure.

Oversight

Senators ask Social Security for info on AI work

Though the Social Security Administration has been using artificial intelligence tools in some form for two decades, the lawmakers stressed the need to engage the public as it explores new technologies like generative AI.

Tech

Congressional agencies report progress on AI adoption

The House Administration Committee said in the new report that it is also focused “on applying the House’s AI guardrails to the acquisitions process.”

Tech

Hackathon imagines federal agency websites enhanced by artificial intelligence

GSA sponsored Wednesday’s competition, which took place in Washington, D.C., New York City and Atlanta.

Workforce

Agencies get creative to recruit AI experts 

The federal government has hired more than 200 technologists through the national artificial intelligence talent surge, which is one part of President Biden’s AI executive order.

Tech

Biden to receive AI national security memo outlining forbidden uses, opportunities for innovation

The memorandum expected to be delivered Friday to President Joe Biden will build upon existing artificial intelligence guidance while highlighting workforce needs and prohibited use scenarios.

Tech

HHS reorg seeks to streamline tech and cyber policy

A new assistant secretary post will consolidate management of technology, data, AI and health IT.

Tech

Biden looks to preserve his tech and cyber legacy with veto threat

Experts see continuity in tech policy from the Biden administration to a possible Kamala Harris presidency, with possible divergence on some national security and antitrust issues.

Tech

US, allies take down Kremlin-backed AI bot farm

The bot farm allegedly originated from a deputy manager at RT — a Russian state-backed news agency — and spread disinformation on the X social media platform.

Tech

Trump pledges to ax Biden’s AI executive order

The newly adopted Republican platform calls the executive order “dangerous.”