On September 26, 2018, Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) plus other Senators introduced the “Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Government Act. This legislation would improve the use of AI across the federal government by providing resources and would direct federal agencies to include AI in data-related planning.
The AI in Government Act would:
- Expand an office within FDA to provide technical expertise to relevant government agencies, conduct forward-looking, original research on federal AI policy, and promote U.S competitiveness through agency and industry cooperation
- Establish an advisory board to address AI policy opportunities and challenges for executive agencies
- Direct the Office of Management and Budget to establish a strategy for investing and using AI as part of the federal data strategy
- Direct the Office of Personnel Management to identify skills and competencies for AI and establish a new or update an existing occupational series
“The U.S won’t have the global competitive edge in AI if our own government isn’t making the most of these technologies,” according to Senator Schatz, the ranking member of the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet. “This bill will give the federal government the resources it needs to hire experts, do research, and work across federal agencies to use AI technologies in smart and effective ways.”