US Government Mandates Senior AI Leaders in Federal Agencies

The US government has issued a directive requiring all federal agencies to appoint senior leaders to oversee their AI systems, aiming to ensure safe and responsible use of AI in public service. Vice President Kamala Harris announced the new Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance, which also includes the establishment of AI governance boards within the agencies. This directive expands on the Biden administration’s AI executive order, which aimed to create safety standards and increase AI talent in government. In line with this, agencies are mandated to submit an annual report to the OMB listing all AI systems used, associated risks, and plans for risk mitigation. Furthermore, the government plans to hire 100 AI professionals by the summer. It's also emphasized that agencies must monitor their AI systems frequently, submit inventories of AI products used, and verify that deployed AI meets safeguards to mitigate the risks of algorithmic discrimination. Moreover, any government-owned AI models, code, and data should be released to the public, unless they pose a risk to government operations. Despite lacking specific laws regulating AI, the AI executive order provides guidelines for government agencies, whilst there hasn't been substantial progress in legislating AI technologies through filed bills. These steps indicate the government's commitment to responsible AI deployment and oversight within federal agencies.