For states and localities looking to automate repetitious work, reduce paper-based tasks and streamline processes, artificial intelligence (AI) holds a lot of promise. The National Association of State CIOs (NASCIO) in their recent report on AI and machine learning drew upon a Deloitte assessment that categorized the benefits of automation into four groups: relieve, split up, replace, and augment. The challenge for state and local agencies is...

“Infantry wins battles, logistics wins wars.” That quote by Army General John J. Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I, summarizes why logistics is so important to the military. Today the U.S. military faces even greater logistics challenges, as technology amplifies warfighters’ force execution but adds complications to the vast array of supplies needed to support them.The modern warfighter m...

In today’s heatedly competitive job market, government agencies need solutions for retaining top performers, upskilling and reskilling the workforce, and recruiting new talent efficiently. Having a strong Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) program is critical to attract and retain top talent. The use of responsible artificial intelligence (AI) can improve agencies’ diversity goals, while adhering to well-defined...

Every federal agency recognizes that being audited is an often painful, always time-consuming process. The Department of Defense, for instance, has failed four audits in a row – but it is making progress after decades to keep its financial house in order. A Government Accountability Office report in 2020 identified several challenges that make it harder for agencies to earn clean fiscal bills of health, including problems with their fina...

Of all the consequential potential applications for artificial intelligence, nothing may rival its use by military operations. The very idea of life-and-death decision-making by AI-enabled weapons systems has induced fear in the collective social imagination for decades – the first “Terminator” movie was released in 1985.Hollywood’s deployment of special effects is lightyears beyond the capabilities of today’s AI....

In the iconic “Star Trek” – whether the TV series of the 1960s or the two-movie adaptations over the past 40 (!) years – Dr. McCoy uses a handheld scanner to examine, diagnose, and treat his patients. What “Star Trek” doesn’t show is the vast amount of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) that culminated in the creation of the scanner’s capabilities. Though this level of compute...

The pandemic and great resignation have put talent acquisition and employee retainment front and center for companies and federal agencies alike. Today, there are several emerging technologies that can make a substantial impact on improving recruitment, reducing regrettable attrition, and promoting diversity and inclusion. At the forefront of this innovation is Artificial Intelligence (AI). Yet misconceptions, misunderstandings, and a lack of...

George Bernard Shaw famously once said that England and America are two countries separated by a common language. In the digital domain, however, zeros and ones transcend that difference. In diplomatic circles, the U.S. and the U.K. are known to have a closely aligned relationship. That extends to the military, as well - both are pursuing digital transformation strategies to facilitate adoption of emerging, innovative technologies, such as art...

The burgeoning use of artificial intelligence (AI) is spurring invention and innovation across many sectors, including: Science, where AI is accelerating discovery; Education and the development of individualized curriculum; Space through autonomous spacecraft and smart habitats; Healthcare using sensors and smart micro-systems; Smart Cities to reduce cost, enhance safety, and ensure environmental standards; and Military, intelligence and gove...

The concept of artificial intelligence (AI) in the popular imagination tends to be pretty frightening – from HAL, the rogue computer in 2001, to the Terminator movie franchise. The public doesn’t realize that AI is already being used, such as powering the chatbots they use when they talk online with government agencies or their favorite vendors. And the potential exists to remake delivery of services at all levels of government. Th...