Artificial Intelligence in Government and the Presidential Transition: Building on a Solid Foundation

Artificial intelligence allows computerized systems to perform tasks traditionally requiring human intelligence: analytics, decision support, visual perception and foreign language translation. AI and robotics process automation, or RPA, have the potential to spur economic growth, enhance national security, and improve the quality of life. In a world of "Big Data" and "Thick Data," AI tools can process huge amounts of data in seconds, automating tasks that would take days or longer for human beings to perform--and the public sector in the United States is at the very beginning of a long-term journey to develop and harness these tools. The National Academy of Public Administration identified Making Government AI Ready as one of the Grand Challenges in Public Administration. I chaired the Academy's Election 2020 Project Working Group on AI.