Modernization
OPM reduces the retirement backlog by one-third in 2023
The federal government’s HR agency’s work on improving the retirement application process for federal workers led to the agency shattering yet another longstanding record last month.
Artificial Intelligence
How often does ChatGPT push misinformation?
Researchers found that one of the most popular generative-AI tools agreed with false statements up to one-quarter of the time.
Artificial Intelligence
House lawmakers join push for agencies to disclose public-impacting AI uses
A group of House members from both parties rolled out companion legislation to a Senate bill that would require agencies to notify individuals when they are engaging with AI tools.
Digital Government
IRS has ‘unconscionable delays’ in helping identity theft victims, taxpayer advocate says
The average wait time for taxpayers trying to resolve fraudulent returns, coupled with legitimate filers being mistakenly flagged as fraudulent, has become a top challenge for the IRS, according to a new report.
Acquisition
Google Cloud eliminates 'exit fees' for departing customers
The cloud services provider appears to be getting out ahead of regulatory efforts in Europe and elsewhere to promote seamless movement of data between cloud providers.
Artificial Intelligence
House lawmakers introduce AI risk management bill
The measure is a companion to a Senate bill offered last year
Artificial Intelligence
Improving government capacity is key for AI deployment, experts tell Congress
The chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Gary Peters, D-Mich., said he plans to zero in on procurement and AI, specifically.
Artificial Intelligence
Bipartisan bill protects artists’ and individuals’ likenesses from AI duplication
The No AI FRAUD Act penalizes cyber actors who leverage generative artificial intelligence and machine learning to duplicate images and voices without a person’s consent.
Cybersecurity
Agencies’ FISMA implementation is still ‘mostly ineffective,’ watchdog says
The Government Accountability Office found that less than half of surveyed federal agencies had compliant security programs and called for improved performance metrics.
Defense
DOD’s AI adoption efforts are starting to pay off, Pentagon official says
The Defense Department considers emerging technologies at “the center of how we think about planning for what the future of the military should look,” according to the head of the Pentagon’s Force Development and Emerging Capabilities office.
Defense
Marines using cheap commercial tech to hide command posts in plain sight
Command posts must be survivable to be effective, one commander says.
Cybersecurity
Think tank report envisions a cyber ‘good place’ for AI and how to get there
Amid the ongoing rise of artificial intelligence technologies and their integration into digital networks, the Aspen Institute compiled a new list of cybersecurity recommendations for government and industry.
Cybersecurity
Watchdog finds ‘sufficient’ cyber threat sharing at agencies, but barriers remain
The Intelligence Community Inspector General’s biennial update on cybersecurity information sharing noted that progress has been made over the past two years, but some agencies reported running up against roadblocks.
Updated
Policy
Congress pivots to full-year funding bills after bipartisan agreement on spending levels
Deal would avoid major cuts but appropriators have just 10 days to avoid a partial government shutdown.
Artificial Intelligence
New AI tools spawn fears of greater 2024 election threats, survey finds
State and local officials are increasingly concerned about the possibility for AI tools to spread disinformation and power phishing attacks during the 2024 election cycle.
Artificial Intelligence
New Google tool lets budding generative AI scientists practice their prompting
Generative AI has the potential to solve a lot of problems, but needs to be properly directed to do so.
Artificial Intelligence
Lawmakers request extra $10M for NIST AI research
Four senators sent a letter to leadership on the Senate Appropriations Committee encouraging more funding for NIST’s efforts to standardize and test AI-centric technologies.
Cybersecurity
Space Force is crafting in-house cyber teams but sees need for closer work with USCYBERCOM
U.S. Cyber Command has been “an incredible partner” to the Space Force but does not currently have any personnel from the military branch within its ranks, a top official said.
Ideas
How federal agencies can accelerate IT systems modernization with AI
AI can explain older programming languages, assist in developing new code and expedite vulnerability remediation.
Policy