Federal government lagging behind on key AI requirements, watchdog finds

Kara Frederick, tech director at the Heritage Foundation, discusses the need for regulations on artificial intelligence as lawmakers and tech titans discuss the potential risks. A number of federal agencies are lagging behind on deadlines and efforts to better their management of artificial intelligence, as the technology's footprint is expanding in the federal government. "Although certain federal agencies have taken initial steps to comply with guidance and statutory requirements, key efforts to strengthen management of AI have missed deadlines and are not yet completed," the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report issued this week says. The report makes dozens of recommendations to 19 agencies to take additional steps to fully implement requirements on AI that are federally mandated. Those recommendations include the development of plans across agencies on the application of the technology, the use of inventories to include required information and the issuing of guidance on AI usage.