AI, Government and the Future

Welcome to our weekly dive into the exciting world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on the U.S. Government!

AI is progressing at an incredible pace, and we're just scratching the surface. With so much information out there, it can be overwhelming to keep up.

We're here to provide you with insightful analysis and a concise summary, delivered to you on a regular basis. Stay informed, stay up-to-date, and join us on this thrilling journey into the future of AI.

Episode 30 Recap: Brian Morrison Former LLM Specialist and Liaison at the Department of the Air Force Chief Data and AI Office

Brian Morrison joins this episode of AI, Government, and the Future, exploring the transformative potential of AI, especially generative AI, in cybersecurity and defense. He discusses the current and future applications of AI in the Department of Defense (DOD) and Air Force, addresses infrastructure and policy needs, examines ethical frameworks, and highlights the importance of international AI collaboration. Brian also offers advice for aspiring innovators aiming to apply AI in defense.

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Spotlight

Balancing AI’s Energy Demands with Its Potential to Accelerate Clean Energy

To meet the increasing energy demands of data centers and AI technologies, accelerating the permitting process for clean energy infrastructure is essential. AI tools can play a pivotal role in expediting these efforts, as the use of AI technologies is projected to drive a 160% increase in data center power demand by 2030. Slow regulatory processes could hinder meeting the nation's power needs. Streamlining, permitting, and engaging a broader range of stakeholders are critical steps forward. President Biden's executive order calls for the development of AI models to simplify permitting, while the Department of Energy is investing in AI research to accelerate the process. Initiatives like VoltAIc are being tested to analyze historical reviews, and AI is also aiding in grid deployment and oversight efforts.

Read More - nextgov

The Number 

$100 Billion 

The global AI infrastructure market is set to exceed $100 billion in spending by 2028, growing at an impressive 37% year-over-year in the first half of 2024. The US leads the market, followed by China, the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). The APJ (Asian Pacific) region is anticipated to grow the fastest, followed by the US, EMEA, and China. By 2028, cloud deployments are expected to dominate, comprising 75% of the market, while accelerated servers will make up 56% of total spending.  Concerns about energy consumption are also driving the exploration of alternative architectures to enhance efficiency.

In-Depth 

Experts Urge Governments to Mandate AI Environmental Impact Disclosures 

Experts at the GovAI Coalition Summit in San Jose urged local and state governments to require technology vendors to disclose the environmental impacts of their AI tools. They recommended including energy and water usage requirements in procurement contracts. With the increasing use of AI tools like ChatGPT driving up energy consumption in data centers, the panel highlighted the environmental costs of developing computer chips and related devices. The experts stressed that governments must weigh these concerns, understand trade-offs, and consider ethical implications when adopting and purchasing AI tools.

Read More - govtech

Atlanta Forms AI Commission to Shape Smarter City Strategies

Atlanta City Council has approved a plan to establish an AI Commission to assess AI’s impact and potential benefits for city government. Other cities including San Jose, New York, Boston, and Singapore are also exploring  AI through various initiatives. AI’s applications in city government span public safety, transportation, urban planning, and citizen engagement. However, a report from the National League of Cities underscores the need for caution in implementing AI technologies. For example, one concern is the potential for an AI divide, where cities with limited digital infrastructure fall behind more advanced urban areas, exacerbating existing inequalities. Additional issues include ethical challenges, adoption barriers, transparency, trust, and the need for responsible implementation.

Read More - cities-today