Emerging Tech
TSA’s biometrics deployment will take 25 years, unless lawmakers end fee diversion, agency head tells Congress
The Transportation Security Administration chief told lawmakers that it will take until 2049 to deploy facial recognition technology at U.S. airports if significant revenue from the 9/11 security fee continues to be diverted away from the agency.
Senate passes FAA reauthorization without TSA biometrics amendment
A group of bipartisan senators hoped to use the must-pass measure to pause rollouts of the Transportation Security Administration’s facial recognition technology at new airports.
Agencies are advancing AI pilots but face scalability challenges, report finds
General Dynamics Information Technology’s survey of federal decisionmakers found that AI initiatives moved from the pilot phase to production in an average of 14 months.
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Mace sponsors bill to push CBP to use blockchain at the border
Customs and Border Protection has already been doing research into how the tech could be used for its mission.
White House launches digital twins funding opportunity
The Biden administration is investing over $280 million into digital twin technologies to innovate in semiconductor manufacturing and research.
Lawmakers seek pause on TSA’s use of facial biometrics in FAA bill
A Senate amendment to the FAA reauthorization bill would pause additional rollout of the TSA’s facial recognition technology until Congress has reviewed the agency’s program.
NSF pitches Congress on the potential of quantum technology
The National Science Foundation made a case for robust congressional funding in emerging tech research following budget cuts to the agency this year.
Bipartisan bill seeks to grow NASA program using drones to fight wildfires
New legislation attempts to improve NASA’s Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response to Operations program so firefighters can more effectively use drones.
Decoding distinctions in biometrics
Though some developers describe facial recognition and analysis as “completely different technologies,” privacy advocates argue they remain the same in the kinds of dangers they pose.
Los Alamos National Lab unveils new supercomputer primed for AI
NVIDIA, Hewlett Packard, and the Department of Energy jointly bought a new supercomputer to the New Mexico lab outfitted for processing large volumes of data.
EEOC says HR software company Workday should face bias claims in lawsuit
The federal agency filed an amicus brief in a case in which a job applicant is alleging algorithmic discrimination.
How TSA’s opt-outs for biometric screenings informed White House AI policy
The Office of Management and Budget’s recent guidance on the government’s responsible use of AI elevates TSA's practice of allowing travelers to decline biometric scans at airport security to national policy.
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