First U.S. Artificial Intelligence Czar Seeks 'Responsible Use' of AI Tools

Computer scientist Lynne Parker made breakthroughs in getting robots to work together so they could perform difficult missions, like cleaning up after a nuclear disaster, waxing floors or pulling barnacles off a ship. Her job now is getting the U.S. government working together -- alongside American businesses, research universities and international allies -- as director of a new national initiative on artificial intelligence. She's America's first AI czar, at a time of rising promise and a heavy dose of both hype and fear about what computers can do as they think more like humans. "There's an increased need for education and training so that people know how to use AI tools, they know sort of what the capabilities are of AI so that they don't treat it as magic," Parker said in an interview with The Associated Press. A first task for Parker, who took on the role in the waning days of the Trump administration, is adapting to priorities set by the Biden administration.