Federal Agencies Cautiously Embrace AI, Prioritizing Workforce Education and Early Experimentation
Government Leaders Focus on Educating Employees and Automating Tasks as Advanced Technologies Take Hold
Key Points:
· Federal agencies are cautiously adopting AI, prioritizing
workforce education and early use cases.
· Concerns about job displacement are being addressed, with
AI seen as a tool to augment existing work, not replace jobs.
· Broader AI use across government agencies is expected in the
future.
Federal agencies are taking a measured approach to adopting data
analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) tools, prioritizing workforce
education and cautious experimentation before widespread deployment. This
cautious approach emerged during a panel discussion at ATARC's CIO summit,
where officials emphasized the importance of addressing concerns and building
trust among employees as new technologies are integrated into daily operations.
Focus on Training
President Biden's October executive order on responsible AI use
underscores the government's commitment to ensuring all employees receive
adequate training to understand the potential and limitations of AI. Officials
acknowledged concerns from employees about potential job displacement,
emphasizing that AI is intended to augment existing workflows and automate repetitive
tasks, not replace human workers.
Building Trust
Audrey Story, a deputy chief information officer with the
Department of Health and Human Services, highlighted the need to actively
engage employees in the adoption process. "We're allowing them to do the
thinking of this effort and to bring the leadership and the ideas," Story
said, emphasizing that employee-driven initiatives foster greater trust and
acceptance of new technologies.
Cautious Approach to AI
Dr. Paul Tibbits, the executive director of the Department of
Veterans Affairs' Office of Technical Integration, described VA's approach as
"very much in a learning mode." The department is prioritizing
training, education, and pilot projects to explore the potential of AI in areas
like claims processing and suicide prevention, but emphasizes the need for
careful study and assessment before widespread deployment.
Broader Adoption Likely
While the immediate focus lies on education and early
experimentation, many agencies are already planning for broader AI adoption. A
recent Government Accountability Office report found over 1,200 current or
planned AI uses across 20 agencies, with approximately 200 already deployed. As
agencies continue to address workforce concerns and refine their approaches,
the use of AI is expected to become increasingly commonplace across the federal
government.
