AIScoop

🌟 Yesterday, we had an incredible day at #AITalks! The event was filled with groundbreaking discussions and visionary insights into the future of AI in the public sector. Together, we delved deep into the transformative power of AI across government functions. Attendees had the privilege of gaining practical insights into fostering an AI-friendly culture, navigating implementation challenges, and leveraging AI to address emerging risks, thanks to our esteemed speakers and panelists. Engaging discussions on the underrepresentation of women in AI, healthcare advancements, strategic initiatives like the Executive Order reshaping federal AI adoption added depth to the day's conversations, and much more. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who joined us, our esteemed speakers: Drew Myklegard, Karen Dahut, Dr. Matthew Graviss, Dr. Kelly Fletcher, Susan Wedge, Dr. William Chappell, Steven Posnack, Robin Carnahan, Dorothy Aronson, Mina Hsiang, Eileen Vidrine, Alla Goldman Seiffert, Howard S., Rep. Ted Lieu, Trevor Brenn, Ann Dunkin, Jinyoung Englund, Vinay Vijay Singh, Zach Whitman, Dave Vennergrund, and Olivia Zhu, and our valued sponsors: Google for Government, Amazon Web Services (AWS), General Dynamics Information Technology, IBM, Microsoft in Government, Varonis, and Nutanix. Your participation and support were instrumental in making #AITalks a resounding success, fostering insightful discussions and driving innovation in the realm of AI. We eagerly anticipate continuing this journey together as we explore new frontiers and unlock the full potential of artificial intelligence in the public sector. Interested in our future events? Visit aiscoop.com/attend to learn more and reserve your spot!

Like many other states, Alaska is experimenting with generative artificial intelligence to improve operations. State CIO Bill Smith says that work is drawing a little uncertainty and curiosity from staff, but that generally the response to the state’s AI work has been positive. https://lnkd.in/eJ28V5JG

After a six-month trial of testing generative artificial intelligence tools in a closed environment, California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday announced the state will move to the procurement stage of incorporating the emerging technology into its operations. Newsom announced the state has opened a formal procurement process so companies can pitch generative AI products that help solve statewide issues like housing, unemployment and budgeting. Newsom’s office also announced the launch of a new website designed to showcase the generative AI projects happening across California state government. https://lnkd.in/esfsx4JC

The Department of Health and Human Services was among the first federal agencies to release its 2024 AI use case inventory Monday, reporting a roughly 66% increase in uses from the previous year. In a post accompanying the inventory, Steven Posnack, HHS’s principal deputy assistant secretary for technology policy and principal deputy national coordinator for health IT, highlighted the health agency’s increase from 163 to 271 use cases and noted the varying stages of development. The new figure, for example, includes uses for operation and maintenance and in acquisition and development, as well as 16 uses that are retired. https://lnkd.in/emiRQ7nx

Office of Management and Budget issued a consolidated list of #federal #AI use cases. And the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency delivered new guidance for how agencies should secure their #cloud environments. 🔗 Hear more on The Daily Scoop Podcast: https://lnkd.in/eajwyxRU Don't forget to subscribe: 🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/ewkvHAb2  🟢 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/e-qihnG8 #GovTech #OMB #AI #CISA #CloudSecurity

The Department of Homeland Security has built an artificial intelligence-based chatbot it’s calling DHSChat, the latest in a string of agency experimentations with generative AI. DHSChat is designed as a chatbot meant for internal use within the agency, according to a press release shared Tuesday. The tool was developed by DHS’s AI Corps and its director, Michael Boyce, after employees experimented with commercial generative AI tools, including Claude and ChatGPT. https://lnkd.in/ebEsyPuC

The Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday released the latest version of its artificial intelligence use case inventory, reporting 158 active applications for the technology — a major jump from the 67 it made public last year. In an explanatory blog post outlining how the agency approaches artificial intelligence, Eric Hysen, the agency’s CAIO and CIO, said that 29 deployed AI use cases and 10 upcoming AI use cases were deemed to be rights- or safety-impacting, a new level of scrutiny established by recent White House guidance. Roughly half of those deployed use cases included technologies related to face recognition and face-capture technologies, he said. https://lnkd.in/djvU6yZc

With his time in the White House drawing to a close, President Joe Biden issued the United States’ first national security memorandum on artificial intelligence. Released less than two weeks before the election, the document offered a final recitation of priorities, concerns and strategies to cement Biden’s legacy on AI policy and set a guidepost for his successor. At a high level, the NSM contained few surprises. Officials reiterated AI’s potentially profound impacts on the geopolitical landscape and underscored the importance of longstanding policy goals, such as strengthening U.S. technological leadership, undercutting the ambitions of competitors like China, and promoting the safe use of AI systems. https://lnkd.in/d3CJHrnf

House AI task force members on Tuesday touted the long-awaited release of their report outlining recommendations to Congress on the federal government’s adoption of AI, while confirming that lawmakers are in conversation with the incoming administration about the very same topics. The nearly 300-page report digs into a plethora of areas that the emerging technology touches, including the government’s own use of AI, along with recommendations concerning AI governance and the AI workforce. https://lnkd.in/d_6HmbwJ

The Department of Homeland Security should improve guidance for risk assessments focused on artificial intelligence and the threats the technology could pose to critical infrastructure sectors, the Government Accountability Office said in a report released Wednesday. The watchdog report, which recommends that DHS “quickly” update its “guidance and template for AI risk assessments” to address various gaps, comes amid ongoing concern that AI could be used to undermine critical infrastructure sectors, which range from dams and IT systems to emergency services. https://lnkd.in/dXhgK9RW