Artificial Intelligence

Pilot IRS Will Shift Focus to Key Technologies in 2021 Solicitations

Forthcoming solicitations will center on digitizing paper and poor-quality documents, high-speed scanning and automation tools.

Emerging Tech

Army Wants to Automate Base Access With Facial Recognition at Drive-Thru Checkpoints

The proposed system uses a reliable form of facial biometric identification but would need to control for variables like weather and low light.

Emerging Tech

FCC to Consider Proposal Enabling Spectrum for Commercial Space Launches

Companies currently are approved on an ad-hoc basis to share the federal spectrum during specific operations. 

Modernization

State Department Floats $4B Vehicle to Consolidate Its IT Contracts

The new contract vehicle will also shift the agency’s strategy to focus on fixing problems instead of buying tech.

Emerging Tech

Microsoft to Produce Augmented Reality Headsets Under $21B Army Contract

The Army’s Integrated Visual Augmentation system headset is based on Microsoft’s HoloLens gaming device.

Emerging Tech

A Marine Logistics Base May Be the Warehouse of the Future

Virginia Tech researchers aim to use 5G networks to track items as they come and go.

Emerging Tech

Watchdog to Review How Postal Inspectors Handle Cryptocurrency

Digital currencies have already been seized by the law enforcement arm in previous investigations.

Digital Government

Biden Commits to Investing ‘Closer to 2%’ of GDP in Science Research

The president referenced infrastructure, immigration, quantum computing and much more in his first formal press conference.

Emerging Tech

Republican Lawmakers Push for Billions in Boosts to Science Agency Budgets

Their re-introduced bill also calls for a national S&T strategy—and new requirements, including a supply chain-tracking database.

Digital Government

IRS Needs Help Managing and Upgrading Legacy Criminal Investigations Systems

The two main IT systems that manage the tax agency’s investigations efforts are 10 and 15 years old, and users want new capabilities.

Ideas

Program Lets Users Design Their Own Quantum Computers

This is the first time that most people will be able to “touch” quantum computing.

Modernization

Deputy Federal CIO on Fate of Trump-era IT Policies

The Office of American Innovation, Cloud Smart and the Federal Reskilling Academy are some of Trump-era tech policies left behind. Now the Biden team must decide what to do with them.