AI in Government Hinges on Supportive Leadership and a "Glass Breaker" in Charge

More technologically knowledgeable stakeholders and committed leadership within the federal government are critical to successfully implementing scalable artificial intelligence technology in public offices. Speaking during a virtual panel discussion, officials including Jack Shanahan, the inaugural director of the Department of Defense's Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, discussed the need for modernization advocates in federal agencies, specifically needing a "disrupter" helming the implementation of new software. "If this is really the first big AI project designed to go fast and to go to scale, you need almost a classic glass breaker type of person that's just going to plow over all those bureaucratic obstacles," he explained. He added that agency leaders and deputies need to be completely on board with new technology rollouts to help ensure that adequate oversight and accountability is present in artificial intelligence acquisitions. Shanahan also noted that more employees with a technical aptitude are vital.