Artificial Intelligence
The real danger of military AI isn’t killer robots; it’s worse human judgement
As Pentagon rushes to deploy LLM-based tools, research suggests they can undermine human thought and communication.
Cybersecurity
European officials highlight private sector help in major cybercrime takedowns
Industry helped European law enforcement groups in operations that tracked and dismantled assets tied to major cybercrime gangs like Scattered Spider.
People
Agency data leads worry about staff capacity to tackle statutory requirements, survey finds
The Data Foundation found that some 40% of chief data officers lost six or more employees last year.
People
Trump names CEOs, nuclear fusion founders and Nobel laureate to tech advisory council
The announcement includes 13 of the possible 24 members that will make up the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
People
Inspector general group to be led by former Trump administration adviser
A government oversight organization said that the selection of Cheryl Mason, who is the inspector general for the Veterans Affairs Department, shows the White House is “putting more of a thumb on the scale” of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency.
Artificial Intelligence
GOP policy leads highlight child safety as key step in national AI legislation
Legislators are still working through options for what that legislation will look like, including the possibility of reviving the proposed moratorium on state AI regulations.
Cybersecurity
Ex-NSA leaders say Americans are becoming ‘numb’ to cyber threats
A serious cyberattack hasn’t prompted a strong enough policy or public reaction, one former director said.
Exclusive
People
New NSA director pushes for more intel-sharing with allies in internal meeting
Gen. Josh Rudd also told members of NSA and Cyber Command that the organizations should still focus on major cyber adversaries like Russia and China, despite the Trump administration’s emphasis on the southern border.
Digital Government
CMS rule looks to kill faxed, mailed claims in favor of e-submissions
CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said the new rule “will modernize American healthcare by standardizing electronic claims attachments and enabling secure electronic signatures.”
Artificial Intelligence
IRS faces AI skills gaps after pushing tech talent out, watchdog finds
The agency drained about 40% of its IT staff last year, GAO said.
Ideas
The hidden infrastructure challenge of the Genesis Mission
COMMENTARY | AI ambition without infrastructure alignment is just aspiration.
People
Mullin confirmed to lead DHS as shutdown drags on and 100,000 employees remain unpaid
Trump's new DHS chief promises some reforms and renewed staffing efforts.
Cybersecurity
Google launches threat disruption unit, stops short of calling it ‘offensive’
The unit will use legal authorizations and technical capabilities to impede cyber threat groups, though company execs say it will not go so far as to hack into adversaries' systems.
People
‘No practical use': TSA experts say Trump’s ICE deployments won’t help with airport security
More than 400 TSA employees have left the agency since the shutdown began last month, White House says.
Artificial Intelligence
Lawmaker calls for GAO review of threat actors weaponizing AI
In a letter to the federal watchdog, Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, warned that “the nature and scope of the challenges associated with countering these AI-enabled threats are not well understood.”
Policy
Tech bills of the week: Anti-AI moratorium efforts; Supporting small AI businesses; and more
Lawmakers rolled out a number of proposals this week focused on deploying or reviewing uses of AI, including legislation to leverage the tech in the energy grid and democratize the industry landscape.
Ideas
New methods for assuring digital identity and authenticity
COMMENTARY | Authenticity and provenance must be enforced both at the application level and at the system level so agencies can be confident that user identity and the identity mechanisms themselves are genuine and trustworthy.
Artificial Intelligence
White House releases regulatory vision for AI
The framework includes seven AI policy recommendations for Congress that attempt to balance consumer protections with advancing AI development.
Artificial Intelligence
CMS seeks to expand tech-driven fight against Medicaid fraud
The agency is looking at “testing new approaches and really being able to think outside of the box” to claw back improper payments, according to CMS COO Kim Brandt.
Ideas