US Release Government-Wide AI Policy for Federal Agencies

White House’s first government-wide AI policy ensures AI’s safe and equitable use across federal agencies, emphasizing transparency, innovation, and workforce development.

Washington, D.C. (India CSR): This week marked a significant push for responsible AI development and use by the Biden Administration. In a groundbreaking announcement, Vice President Kamala Harris revealed the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)’s inaugural government-wide AI Policy aimed at mitigating the risks while maximizing the benefits of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

This strategic move, fulfilling a key aspect of President Biden’s significant AI Executive Order, marks a pivotal step in reinforcing AI safety and security, safeguarding Americans’ privacy, championing equity and civil rights, and furthering innovation, among

This AI Policy fulfilling a key component of President Biden’s AI Executive Order, aims to mitigate AI risks while harnessing its benefits across federal agencies.other objectives.

Further emphasizing the importance of accountability, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released an AI Accountability Policy Report. This report calls for a comprehensive framework that includes accountability tools and information, independent AI system evaluation, and consequences for failing to manage risks effectively.

These actions demonstrate the Administration’s commitment to ensuring that AI is developed and used responsibly, ethically, and with the public’s best interests in mind.

AI Policy

• On March 28, 2024, the OMB policy mandated federal agencies to enhance the transparency surrounding AI usage.

Agencies are now obliged to publicly release detailed annual inventories of AI applications, specifying those impacting rights or safety and their risk mitigation strategies. This initiative extends to disclosing sensitive AI use cases, exemptions, and the justification for such exemptions. In a significant push for openness, the government will also make available its AI code, models, and data, ensuring these releases do not compromise public or governmental integrity.

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Fueling Responsible AI Innovation

Recognizing AI’s vast potential, the OMB AI Policy aims to dismantle unnecessary hurdles to AI adoption within federal frameworks. From the climate crisis and public health to public safety, AI’s application is far-reaching. The AI Policy encourages agencies to explore generative AI, bolstered by adequate safeguards, to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency. This includes employing AI chatbots and other innovative pilots to refine customer experiences.

OMB’s policy will also remove unnecessary barriers to Federal agencies’ responsible AI innovation. AI technology presents tremendous opportunities to help agencies address society’s most pressing challenges. Examples include:

• Addressing the climate crisis and responding to natural disasters. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is using AI to quickly review and assess structural damage in the aftermath of hurricanes, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is developing AI to conduct more accurate forecasting of extreme weather, flooding, and wildfires.
• Advancing public health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is using AI to predict the spread of disease and detect the illicit use of opioids, and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services is using AI to reduce waste and identify anomalies in drug costs.
• Protecting public safety. The Federal Aviation Administration is using AI to help deconflict air traffic in major metropolitan areas to improve travel time, and the Federal Railroad Administration is researching AI to help predict unsafe railroad track conditions.

Advances in generative AI are expanding these opportunities, and OMB’s guidance encourages agencies to responsibly experiment with generative AI, with adequate safeguards in place. Many agencies have already started this work, including through using AI chatbots to improve customer experiences and other AI pilots.

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Building the AI Workforce

At the core of responsible AI deployment is a skilled workforce. The AI Policy underscores the need for agencies to bolster their AI talent pool, with plans to hire 100 AI professionals by Summer 2024, underlining the administration’s commitment to a national AI talent surge. Moreover, the Fiscal Year 2025 President’s Budget allocates an additional $5 million to broaden the General Services Administration’s AI training program, further solidifying the government’s investment in AI education and talent development.

Building and deploying AI responsibly to serve the public starts with people. OMB’s guidance directs agencies to expand and upskill their AI talent. Agencies are aggressively strengthening their workforces to advance AI risk management, innovation, and governance including:

• By Summer 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration has committed to hiring 100 AI professionals to promote the trustworthy and safe use of AI as part of the National AI Talent Surge created by Executive Order 14110 and will be running a career fair for AI roles across the Federal Government on April 18.
• To facilitate these efforts, Office of Personnel Management has issued guidance on pay and leave flexibilities for AI roles, to improve retention and emphasize the importance of AI talent across the Federal Government.
• The Fiscal Year 2025 President’s Budget includes an additional $5 million to expand General Services Administration’s government-wide AI training program, which last year had over 4,800 participants from across 78 Federal agencies.

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Strengthening AI Governance

For effective oversight, the OMB AI Policy mandates the appointment of Chief AI Officers and the establishment of AI Governance Boards across federal agencies. These measures aim to coordinate AI utilization and governance, ensuring adherence to best practices and ethical guidelines. Notably, several departments have already instituted these governance frameworks, setting a precedent for comprehensive AI oversight.

To ensure accountability, leadership, and oversight for the use of AI in the Federal Government, the OMB policy requires federal agencies to:

• Designate Chief AI Officers, who will coordinate the use of AI across their agencies. Since December, OMB and the Office of Science and Technology Policy have regularly convened these officials in a new Chief AI Officer Council to coordinate their efforts across the Federal Government and to prepare for implementation of OMB’s guidance.
• Establish AI Governance Boards, chaired by the Deputy Secretary or equivalent, to coordinate and govern the use of AI across the agency. As of today, the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, and State have established these governance bodies, and every CFO Act agency is required to do so by May 27, 2024.

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Setting a Global Standard

The administration’s holistic approach to AI governance not only fosters federal accountability and public transparency but also pioneers responsible AI innovation for societal benefit. Aligning with the Administration’s Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights and the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) AI Risk Management Framework, this policy sets a global benchmark for the ethical use of AI. It embodies the government’s leadership in navigating the complexities of AI, establishing a robust foundation for managing risks and harnessing AI’s transformative potential for public good.

In addition to this guidance, the Administration announcing several other measures to promote the responsible use of AI in Government:

• OMB AI Policy will issue a request for information (RFI) on Responsible Procurement of AI in Government, to inform future OMB action to govern AI use under Federal contracts;
• Agencies will expand 2024 Federal AI Use Case Inventory reporting, to broadly expand public transparency in how the Federal Government is using AI;
• The Administration has committed to hire 100 AI professionals by Summer 2024 as part of the National AI Talent Surge to promote the trustworthy and safe use of AI.

With these actions, the Administration is demonstrating that Government is leading by example as a global model for the safe, secure, and trustworthy use of AI. The policy announced today builds on the Administration’s Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) AI Risk Management Framework, and will drive Federal accountability and oversight of AI, increase transparency for the public, advance responsible AI innovation for the public good, and create a clear baseline for managing risks.

(India CSR)