Artificial Intelligence
House Dem sounds alarm about AI in political messaging
Rep. Yvette Clarke says 2024 “will be the first election cycle where AI-generated ads will be an integral part of how we do campaign advertising.”
Cybersecurity
US power grid faces escalating cyber threats, infrastructure experts warn
The power grid is experiencing heightened threats from foreign adversaries and domestic extremist groups that can pose devastating consequences for the nation’s supply of electricity, experts told a House subcommittee on Tuesday.
Cybersecurity
White House seeks public insight to harmonize ‘inconsistent’ cyber regulations
The Biden administration wants to use public feedback to shape baseline cybersecurity regulations that function across industries and sectors.
Emerging Tech
Enhanced cybersecurity a top reason for agencies embracing emerging tech, study says
General Dynamics Information Technology’s survey of 425 federal employees found that 65% of federal agencies were “moderately to extremely ready to embrace emerging technologies.”
Ideas
FTC probe of OpenAI: Consumer protection is the opening salvo of US AI regulation
COMMENTARY | The FTC probe of ChatGPT maker OpenAI aligns with concerns that members of Congress have expressed.
Acquisition
Federal agencies set small business contracting record even as opportunities decrease
The total number of federal contracting dollars geared for small businesses hit an all-time high in fiscal 2022, but the actual number of contracts set aside for those companies continued a nearly decade-long decline.
Modernization
Pentagon needs to do more to harness the electromagnetic spectrum, lawmakers say
A bipartisan group of lawmakers who co-chair the Congressional Electromagnetic Warfare Working Group said the Defense Department needs to take more of an active role in enhancing its spectrum use to achieve electromagnetic superiority.
Artificial Intelligence
Proceed with caution: Industry advises a careful approach to generative AI
Government and industry tech executives are focused on the risks as well as the opportunities presented by the generative AI revolution.
Digital Government
GSA issues a ‘roadmap’ for Login.gov’s future
The General Services Administration wants to improve Login.gov’s identity proofing rates, add more options for how users can be identity proofed and more.
Data
Get serious about data, US intelligence leaders tell agencies
ODNI’s new three-year plan aims to turn data-gathering from afterthought to key asset.
Modernization
State Department wants IT support for modernizing its consular systems
The department is conducting market research for modernization capabilities to help improve customer experience at passport agencies, its global queueing system and embassy and consulate waiting areas.
Ideas
Why people tend to believe UFOs are extraterrestrial
COMMENTARY | Photos claiming to be UFO evidence are often doctored or otherwise ambiguous.
Artificial Intelligence
What will the federal government do with generative AI?
Federal employees are going to see AI tools show up in cloud-based productivity suites sooner rather than later, but it's not clear yet how the trending tech will impact public-facing digital services.
Cybersecurity
White House announces new program to designate cyber-secure IoT devices
The Biden administration announced its Cyber Trust Mark labeling program to ensure commercial smart home devices have sufficient cybersecurity tech in place.
Digital Government
New bill aims to simplify federal grant applications, boost funding for underserved communities
The Streamlining Federal Grants Act was introduced by a bipartisan trio of senators to build upon a 2019 law.
Emerging Tech
NIST adds 40 potential quantum-resistant algorithms to growing roster
The standards agency’s work to identify and standardize post-quantum cryptographic encryption methods was highlighted as crucial to U.S. cybersecurity implementation plans.
Policy
Semiconductor industry group warns against new limits on chip exports to China
A spokesperson for the National Security Council told Nextgov/FCW that the Biden administration’s export controls “have been carefully tailored to focus on technology with national security implications.”
Ideas
Events that never happened could influence the 2024 presidential election
COMMENTARY | A cybersecurity researcher explains situation deepfakes.
People
Sen. Kaine revives effort to ban Schedule F through the defense policy bill
This marks the second straight year that the Virginia Democrat has sought to attach a measure requiring congressional approval for new federal job classifications to the National Defense Authorization Act.
People