How Government Gets Ready for Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality

Brace yourselves: Artificial intelligence, virtual reality and a host of new emerging technologies are becoming mainstream. Fortunately, for the federal government, two new digital communities will coalesce around these burgeoning technologies in an effort to promote interagency collaboration, partnerships with industry and to exchange ideas about what works. Launched last month, the Artificial Intelligence for Citizens Services and Virtual/Augmented Reality communities add two new focus areas to General Services Administration's Digital Communities effort, which already boasts some 10,000 members and 16 active mission areas. Justin Herman, digital communities and open government lead at GSA, said the communities arose from direct conversations, feedback and analysis from federal agencies themselves. "Agencies had the need for more information and clarification for how to approach these technologies of tomorrow," Herman told Nextgov.