AI also can increase negative impacts of systemic bias, inaccuracies and degradation of performance. Image: sdecoret/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffA main takeaway from a recent roundtable the Partnership for Public Service convened on ethical use of artificial intelligence in benefits delivery is that AI is a “multiplier” of both positive and negative outcomes, a posting says.“
AI’s most immediate government use cases are a matter of scale and speed. It can make big tasks smaller and onerous ones simple. However, just like the humans who make and use it, AI’s impact can be negative and its unintended consequences harmful. These harms are multiplied and scaled similarly to its benefits,” it says.
For example, it said, AI can increase positive impacts of uses such as code generation for IT modernization, automation of rote tasks and focusing staff time on customers, not forms. But AI also can increase negative impacts of systemic bias, inaccuracies and degradation of performance, it said.
“Government can call on lessons learned from managing disruptive technologies over the last century to accelerate governance strategy development. To translate culture and strategy into responsible operationalization, leaders proposed consolidating the technical and personnel elements needed to develop and maintain AI systems under agency authority,” it says.
Those lessons include: train leaders on “technical and ethical implications so they can direct responsible implementation with confidence and clarity”; train staff to leverage their expertise; “engage upskilled staff to develop a mission-driven organizational culture aligned with transparent and ethical AI implementation”; “organize cross-functional hiring teams with technical, HR and policy knowledge to attract and retain technical talent”; and “loosen hiring restrictions for technical talent to compete with private firms.”
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