AI and government: US federal use cases for artificial intelligence

Federal agencies in the United States are increasingly integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into their operations, with a recent US Government Accountability Office audit identifying over 1,200 AI use cases in various stages of development. This adoption highlights AI's transformative potential in areas such as border surveillance, cybersecurity, and scientific exploration, with NASA and the Department of Commerce at the forefront of these efforts. Despite the promising benefits, the rapid deployment of AI poses policy and regulatory challenges, particularly concerning national security, algorithmic biases, and the absence of standardized AI procurement guidelines. Efforts by the Biden Administration to establish high-level guidelines are underway, but the GAO report stresses the need for comprehensive policies that ensure responsible, ethical, and secure AI use. As agencies implement AI, considerations around accuracy, privacy, and compliance are crucial, and technologies like retrieval augmented generation (RAG) and Elasticsearch are being utilized to address these concerns. This ongoing evolution underscores the importance of aligning AI advancements with robust policy frameworks to harness its full potential while mitigating associated risks.