However, the report also highlights that federal agencies use AI in hundreds of ways in secret, with more than 350 applications of the technology not disclosed as they were “considered sensitive.” The report criticizes the Office of Management and Budget for not yet finalizing a draft memo outlining how agencies should properly acquire and use AI, stating that this lack of guidance has led to agencies not fully implementing fundamental practices in managing AI. The report also found shortcomings with several other agencies’ approaches to AI.
Key takeaways:
- The US government is planning to significantly increase its use of artificial intelligence (AI), but lacks the necessary policies to responsibly acquire and use the technology from the private sector, according to a federal oversight report.
- The report revealed that the government uses AI in 228 distinct ways, with nearly half of these uses having been launched within the past year, reflecting AI’s rapid uptake across the US government.
- However, the report also highlighted that federal agencies use AI in hundreds of ways in secret, with agencies declining to identify more than 350 applications of the technology because they were “considered sensitive.”
- The Office of Management and Budget, which is responsible for harmonizing federal agencies’ approach to AI procurement, has yet to finalize a draft memo outlining how agencies should properly acquire and use AI, contributing to inconsistent policies on AI use across federal agencies.