AI, Government and the Future

AI at the Helm: Steering the Future of Government

Author

Corner Alliance
July 25, 2024

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.

Recap Episode Ten of AI Government and the Future: Maya Sherman

In the tenth episode of AI, Government, and the Future, we were joined by Maya Sherman, an AI Policy Researcher, Ethicist, and Author to explore the crossroads of responsible AI, the future of work, and digital transformation. We also dove into the role of governments in regulating AI and India's approach to both regulating and expanding the technology.

Click the links below: 

Spotlight

AI is Beyond Government Control

A region of State Governments are taking measures to protect against the potential risks of generative artificial intelligence (AI) but are finding it difficult to control the rapidly evolving technology. Concerns include biases, misinformation, and disruptions to work and personal life. Leading technology officials from Google and Microsoft share these concerns and emphasize the importance of aligning ethical goals with the government. However, there is concern that government agencies rely heavily on vendors and may not always adhere to their own guidelines. The use of AI in government is increasing, with chatbots and AI-powered functions being used by government employees. Each state is managing AI differently. While some are creating dedicated roles and councils to focus on ethics,  others are focusing on measuring outcomes and being conscious about ethical use. State governments are proactively governing AI and introducing bills to help with regulation. Some of the challenges that governments are faced with include cleaning datasets for AI use, determining their ethical use, and ensuring data security. While the responsibility for the ethical use of AI lies with the state's lawmakers,large tech companies like Microsoft and Google have their own sets of ethical principles for AI.

The Number 

$4.3 Billion  

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is investing $4.3 billion into community-driven projects across the United States to promote local climate action. The funding will support various initiatives such as forest management,household energy efficiency, and assist states and cities in developing climate action plans. The funding reflects the Biden administration's urgency to distribute climate money before the November election. This announcement is the second phase of the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program, with the projects aiming to reduce emissions and create jobs. Recipients are expected to receive the funding as early as this fall.

In-Depth 

Biden Briefed on CrowdStrike IT Outage as Multiple Federal Systems are Impacted

President Biden has been briefed on a global Microsoft outage caused by a defect in an update pushed by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. This led to the closure of Social Security Administration offices and disruptions in identity verification services and 911 services. CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz stated that it was not a cyberattack. The extent of the impact on federal government operations is still unknown, as CrowdStrike is widely used across federal agencies. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is working to address the outages. It is unclear how deeply embedded CrowdStrike's systems are within the affected Windows operating systems.

States Strike Out on Their Own on AI, Privacy Regulation 

States are proactively addressing the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the absence of updated federal laws. Colorado recently signed a comprehensive regulatory law aimed at mitigating consumer harm and discrimination by AI systems. Additionally, states like New Mexico and Iowa, have enacted laws regulating computer-generated images. State legislators are responding to constituents' demand for protections. The Delaware Personal Data Privacy Act, similar to other state laws, will take effect in 2025, giving residents control over their personal data. While Congress has introduced various AI regulation bills, none have passed. In contrast, state legislation has surged significantly in the past two years, with more than 300 bills introduced in the first half of 2024. The legislation covers areas such as AI oversight, data privacy, transparency, and protection from discrimination. Some are concerned that excessive regulation could stifle innovation, while others emphasize the need for federal action given the potential of AI for national security and economic growth.