As of 2023, the United States has been actively pursuing initiatives and setting standards to harness the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in various federal sectors. Despite these efforts, a recent report highlights that several federal agencies are falling behind in enhancing their management of AI technologies, crucial as AI’s role in federal operations grows.
The report scrutinizes 19 agencies, urging them to fully adhere to federally mandated AI requirements. It outlines numerous recommendations, including the formulation of agency-wide AI application strategies, the maintenance of detailed inventories with necessary information, and the issuance of clear guidelines on AI utilization. A significant finding of the report is that out of 23 agencies, 20 reported approximately 1,200 existing or potential challenges and opportunities where AI could be beneficial. This includes tasks like analyzing border surveillance footage and drone-captured images, with more than 200 instances of AI already in deployment.
Agencies like NASA, and the Departments of Commerce, Energy, Health and Human Services, and State were identified as the top users of AI in the 2022 fiscal year. However, the report reveals a disparity in data reporting; only five agencies provided comprehensive information on their AI usage. The remaining 15 either submitted incomplete or inaccurate data, often omitting essential details such as the AI’s lifecycle or its public release status. Additionally, some reported AI applications were later reclassified as non-AI.
The report emerges at a time when both the federal government and Congress are intensively examining AI’s implications, benefits, and potential risks. Legislative activity around AI regulation has surged, including bipartisan discussions with leading technology experts. In line with this, a new bill proposed by Representative Randy Feenstra of Iowa aims to establish strict standards for AI programs in the agriculture sector, emphasizing the safeguarding of essential resources like food and fuel.
Featured image: Credit: Paola Giulia, PlaygroundAI
