Time to Start a New Conversation About AI in Government

By Lloyd McCoy, Marketing Intelligence Manager

Artificial Intelligence is becoming a topic of real interest to federal and SLED governments. Companies that sell storage solutions, automation, big data, security and data mining tools should be encouraged to start a new conversation with their clients and prospects. Here are some of the drivers behind AI in government.

Dramatic cost savings
According to Deloitte, low-investment AI could improve human task speeds up to 20 percent. That would save 96.7 million human hours annually in government. A high investment in AI could save well over one billion human hours per year.

AI therefore, could mean billions of dollars saved by the federal government – money that could be redirected to more AI technology, which would even further improve government services, using shared information for the greater good.

The new space race
At the last Charleston Defense Contractors Association Defense Summit, Chris Miller, executive director of SPAWAR Atlantic, remarked that AI is “the space race of the 21st century.” With nations like China pushing AI development, Miller said the U.S. has to be strategic about how it uses the technology. China, in particular, wants to be a world leader in AI by 2030.

That potential threat has led the DOD to create a joint AI center overseen by CIO Dana Deasy. The center will coordinate efforts on AI projects worth more than $15 million annually to fast-track funding.

The joint AI center will be looking at ways to use machine learning for improved warfighting and decision making, among other things. One example of DOD’s interest in AI is Project Maven, which would use both AI and machine learning for drone footage analysis.
AI is even getting attention in Congress. The House Armed Services Committee has set up a commission to offer recommendations on how to address new and emerging AI threats.

Changing the conversation
AI isn’t just talk any more. It is now finding its way into government, and companies have to present DOD and Intel agencies with AI and machine-learning solutions that address cybersecurity challenges.

With AI, malicious behavior, as well as fraud and abuse, can be detected faster and is easier to identify. AI is letting us automate and streamline government services faster than ever before, which will reduce costs and improve efficiency. That’s a conversation worth having with your government clients and prospects. It’s time to turn the conversation from “what if we could do this” to “this is how we can do it.”

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This blog is adapted from an article published in CSO magazine online. The full article can be found here.