People
André Mendes looks back and forward
The former top tech official at the Department of Commerce looks back on a career in federal IT and previews where he thinks the AI and quantum revolutions will take us.
Digital Government
Many agencies fail to meet tech accessibility mandates, report finds
The congressionally mandated report from the General Services Administration follows first-in-a-decade guidance on Section 508 released in December.
Artificial Intelligence
Roberts: Legal field will be ‘significantly affected by AI’
Chief Justice John Roberts focused his end-of-year report on the intersection of technology and the legal system.
Artificial Intelligence
Bill sets transparency standards for AI models, including use of copyrighted material
New House legislation would direct the Federal Trade Commission to establish standards for “making publicly available information about the training data and algorithms used in artificial intelligence foundation models.”
Ideas
From the Moon’s south pole to an ice-covered ocean world, several exciting space missions are slated for launch in 2024
COMMENTARY | NASA isn’t the only space agency with exciting missions to watch for in 2024.
Modernization
How USPTO built a culture of trust in its automation efforts
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s use of automation has helped officials quickly address identified security vulnerabilities and software bugs, an agency official said.
People
Exit interview: Kemba Walden talks advancing cyber — and becoming a role model — in government
The former acting national cyber director highlighted federal enterprise cybersecurity, cyber workforce issues, her experience as a leader and what it was like being the first Black person and first woman to helm the White House office.
Ideas
3 ways that generative AI can help transform human services
COMMENTARY | Generative AI can help government workers complete time-consuming administrative tasks, address gaps in agency operations, reduce wait times and improve language translation services.
Modernization
Ongoing ‘reset’ looks to put VA’s EHR deployment back on track
An agency spokesperson said VA is "committed to resuming the system rollout" but performance and productivity goals need to be hit before additional deployments are rescheduled.
Ideas
3 guardrails for sustainable AI implementation in the public sector
COMMENTARY | Starting with low-risk use cases can help build best practices while avoiding more significant pitfalls such as data leakages and security vulnerabilities.
People
Fed 100 deadline extended to Jan. 12, 2024
You've got a little extra time to get nominations in for superstars of the federal IT community.
Ideas
4 steps to prepare for the coming quantum onslaught
In 2024, governments must take the lead in acknowledging and addressing the quantum threat.
Defense
Ukraine’s soldiers use cheap tech to hide from Russia’s deadly drones
But the makers of lifesaving drone detectors can’t keep up with demand.
Digital Government
US and EU look for common ground on digital identity
The National Institute of Standards and Technology wants feedback on the EU-US Trade and Technology Council’s early attempt at mapping digital identity frameworks between the two entities.
Cybersecurity
FDA and CISA need to update cyber agreement for medical devices, watchdog says
The Government Accountability Office said medical devices are not commonly hacked but still called them “a source of cybersecurity concern warranting significant attention.”
Cybersecurity
Pentagon issues proposed CMMC rule
The long-anticipated draft rule, which will be officially published on Dec. 26, outlines proposed updates to DOD’s cybersecurity requirements for defense contractors and subcontractors who handle sensitive military data.
Ideas
AI provides a net advantage to federal cyber defenders — if they can use it
COMMENTARY | If agencies don’t invest and innovate internally and in partnership with industry and the research community, the cyber balance in the use of AI/ML can tip towards the attacker.
Artificial Intelligence
FTC bans Rite Aid from using AI facial recognition for 5 years
After investigating its business practices, the Federal Trade Commission alleges that the pharmacy chain did not sufficiently protect its consumers’ digital privacy.
Exclusive
Digital Government