The United States government faces challenges in responsibly adopting artificial intelligence (AI), with a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report revealing a significant policy gap. As the government endeavors to expand its use of AI, a lack of standardized policies for AI acquisitions across agencies poses potential risks to national security, according to the GAO, the top government watchdog.

Current State of U.S. Government AI Usage:

The GAO’s extensive 96-page report offers a comprehensive overview of AI applications across 23 federal agencies. Currently, non-military agencies utilize AI in over 200 ways, with an additional 500 planned applications. The report emphasizes AI’s rapid integration into various sectors, highlighting NASA’s use of AI to monitor global volcano activity and the Department of Commerce’s application for tracking wildfires and wildlife through drone photos.

Concerns Raised by GAO:

1. Policy Gaps Jeopardizing Security: The absence of a government-wide standard for AI acquisitions poses a threat to American security, according to the GAO. The lack of consistent policies may lead to fragmented approaches by different agencies, impacting the overall effectiveness and security of AI implementation.
2. Secretive AI Applications: While agencies disclosed about 70% of their active and planned AI use cases, over 350 applications were considered sensitive and not publicly identified. Some agencies, such as the State Department, disclosed only a fraction of their AI use cases, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.

GAO Recommendations and Government Response:

1. Oversight Challenges: The GAO recommends the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issue guidelines for AI procurement and usage to ensure consistent practices across agencies. The lack of guidance is identified as a contributing factor to agencies not fully implementing fundamental AI management practices.
2. OMB Response: While OMB agreed with the GAO’s recommendation, it highlighted the draft guidance released in November 2023, delayed two years beyond the expected deadline. The GAO underlines the need for OMB to finalize and disseminate comprehensive guidelines for AI acquisition and deployment.
3. Legislative Compliance: The GAO report indicates shortcomings in agencies’ compliance with AI-related requirements imposed by Congress or executive orders. The Office of Personnel Management and ten other agencies lacked essential plans, hindering transparency and public understanding of AI applications.

Conclusion and Future Implications:

The GAO’s report sheds light on the urgency for a standardized approach to AI acquisition and usage across government agencies. As AI continues to play a crucial role in various sectors, a cohesive and transparent policy framework becomes paramount to ensure national security, ethical AI practices, and public trust. The government’s response to the GAO’s recommendations and the finalization of AI guidelines by OMB will shape the future trajectory of AI adoption within the U.S. government.