A report says that prior laws and executive orders” intended to lay the groundwork for federal AI policies have seen spotty implementation. Image: TippaPatt/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffReports have been filed in the Senate in support of bills on sharing among agencies of custom software code and on increasing coordination on artificial intelligence, preparing them for potential floor votes when Congress returns to session after the elections.
The former bill, S-3594, would require agencies to publicly list custom code they make or buy and share that list with the rest of the government. “Many federal agencies develop or buy custom software created for the agency. In many cases, this software has the potential to be reused by other agencies for performing the same or similar tasks,” the report says. “However, agencies generally do not share custom software or its underlying code with each other.”
“This results in duplicative government contracts and needless spending, as agencies will frequently hire contractors to reproduce code that another agency has already purchased. Additionally, if agencies allow con tractors to keep sole control of computer models used for regulatory analysis, that code does not count as ‘‘government records’’ and thus is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act,” it says.
The second bill, S-2293, sets standards for “ensuring the responsible research, development, acquisition, and use of AI” at each agency; creates a Chief AI Officer at each agency to carry out those requirements; an AI Coordination Board of senior officials at each agency to coordinate and integrate AI activities and policy across the agency; and an interagency Chief AI Officers Council.
“These structures would help ensure agency research, development, acquisition, governance, and use of AI is safe, trustworthy, and consistent with democratic values. At the same time, these new structures would help support agency efforts to use AI in innovative ways to bolster the government’s efficiency and effectiveness,” its report says.
It says that prior laws and executive orders” intended to lay the groundwork for federal AI policies have seen spotty implementation. One reason is that sufficient governing structures, coordination, and leadership are not yet in place across government.”
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