Tag Archives: AI

How Technology Is Improving Citizen-Government Relations

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When it comes to modernizing government, implementing new technology should not be the goal. The driver should be mission achievement improving service. Technology should not be the end solution, but an enabler of better processes.

With that in mind, we wanted to take a look at some of the buzziest technology solutions and see how they are enabling better citizen service.

Geospatial Data

A good deal of government service involves knowledge of a location. City, state, and federal governments need geospatial data to inform their work--from efficient emergency response to disaster preparedness and response, to the coordination of major events like Mardi Gras, marathons, and the upcoming World Cup and 2028 Olympics. Continue reading →

Our Autonomous Future Starts Now

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The autonomous future imagined by The Jetsons, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and even Back to the Future Part II may not yet be a reality, but a perfect storm of technological innovation is moving us closer. Drones, autonomous robots, and self-driving cars all rely on a complex web of technology to perform as programmed. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and 5G availability are enabling autonomous devices to be more, well...autonomous.

Device autonomy is a spectrum. Basic autonomy could look like the end result of setting a flight path for a drone and then initiating an unmanned flight. More complex autonomy could resemble giving a drone parameters such as, "here's the data we want to capture" and the device then designing the tactics, flight path, and timing needed to meet that goal. The wide rollout of 5G provides infrastructure that can handle the high data volumes and speed required by autonomous devices and missions, while AI advances are allowing machines to engage in more advanced and proactive decision-making.

While the reality of autonomy will look different than what Hollywood visionaries depicted, its impact will be just as exciting as any blockbuster. Autonomous systems will be a critical part of realizing a number of key government goals. Continue reading →

Making Sure Data Centers are Good Neighbors

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is having a huge impact on how states and cities deliver services and manage communities. The computing power needed to support this technology requires the construction and management of a multitude of new data centers. This infrastructure has proven to be both a blessing and a curse for localities.

Data centers can transform the economics of a region, bringing a host of benefits to communities including job creation, tax revenue, and infrastructure upgrades, including investments in clean energy. Additionally, areas with data centers tend to attract companies building technology hubs that provide additional highly paid and highly skilled jobs. Continue reading →

Improved Technology Means Improved Citizen Service

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A focus on government efficiency should benefit citizens by yielding improved service and better stewardship of tax dollars. Efforts have been underway across government for decades to improve service to the citizen. With the government embracing artificial intelligence (AI) and new security paradigms, the digitization of government continues to accelerate in support of citizen service.

Paperwork Reduction

The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 kicked off the government's focus on reducing both paperwork and manual effort. Now a new piece of legislation may accelerate efforts further. The ePermit Act was introduced to create an interagency data system to serve as a single point for tracking real-time data on environmental reviews. Currently, agencies have siloed systems that make it difficult to share information, even though permitting often spans multiple agencies. This act responds to the administration's desire to streamline regulatory compliance, easing burdens on industry. Continue reading →

New AI Guidance, Similar Goals

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In early April, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a pair of memos to provide agencies with guardrails for how they use and purchase artificial intelligence (AI). These memos replaced guidance issued by the previous administration but maintain many of the same structures.

The first memorandum, M-25-21, gives agencies three priorities when accelerating the federal use of AI: innovation, governance, and public trust. It states, "...agencies are directed to provide improved services to the public, while maintaining strong safeguards for civil rights, civil liberties, and privacy." The memo maintains items that were established under the Biden administration, including:

  • The creation of chief AI officer roles and AI councils "to serve as change agents and AI advocates, rather than overseeing layers of bureaucracy."
  • Implement minimum risk management practices for "high-impact" AI use--those applications of AI that could have significant impacts when deployed.

Continue reading →