Artificial Intelligence
Microsoft expands Copilot agentic tools in government clouds
Copilot agentic AI capabilities Researcher, Analyst, Agent Builder and Copilot Studio are now available within the GCC, GCC-High and Defense cloud environments.
Acquisition
Vendors struggle to navigate the Anthropic ban’s fallout
Tech contractors say ambiguity in how Anthropic’s products are able to be used by companies working with the federal government is leaving “traps” they may unknowingly fall into.
Artificial Intelligence
Survey: Human capital is a key barrier to government AI adoption
A vast majority of federal leaders see artificial intelligence as an important step toward better operations, Ernst & Young found.
Policy
Tech bills of the week: Child social media safety, Data center moratorium, and more
This week’s new bills aim to regulate multiple aspects of digital safety — such as child social media access, AI bias and environmental harm — while others update larger legislation to support emerging technology.
People
VA’s former EHR lead indicted for concealing contractor gifts
The Department of Justice alleges that John Windom accepted and sometimes demanded various gifts while helming the electronic health record modernization at Veterans Affairs.
Artificial Intelligence
White House official advocates for a ‘give and take’ on state AI preemption
Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios argued the administration’s AI policy framework allows states to regulate some things about the technology — like child safety and state government procurement — while ensuring a national standard.
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.
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.
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.
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
GSA, NIST partner to craft evaluation standards for AI tools in federal operations
Through the Center for AI Standards and Innovation, both agencies will help streamline the process to develop standards for artificial intelligence tools being used in government workflows.
Modernization
Energy opens applications for $293 million in research funding
A new RFA invites scientific researchers to apply for federal funding to solve pressing scientific and technological challenges and advance the Genesis Mission.
Policy
Tech bills of the week: Improved biological data for research; Section 702 reform; and more
Legislation introduced this week looks to shore up standardization for biological research data, reauthorize and reform FISA Section 702, and offer more transparency into AI’s use in Medicare Advantage plans.
Artificial Intelligence
AI has created ‘almost infinite demand’ for memory components, Dell execs say
With core components of artificial intelligence infrastructure — namely memory — already scarce and in demand, Dell executives want policymakers to not create more obstacles via regulation.
Emerging Tech
IBM unveils new hybrid quantum computing architecture
Working with existing infrastructure, IBM is angling to expedite the benefits of quantum computing with help from classical architectures.
Artificial Intelligence
Siemens joins Genesis Mission
The infrastructure technology company is the latest to jump on the Genesis Mission.
Artificial Intelligence
Senator eyes updating NDAA with AI use guidance
Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., said he and fellow lawmakers are discussing updating the National Defense Authorization Act with a framework for how artificial intelligence systems should be used in military operations.
Acquisition
State offloads Claude as underpinning model in flagship StateChat
The agency moved its chatbot to operate on OpenAI’s GPT 4.1, internal document shows.
Acquisition
Anthropic sues over a dozen federal agencies and government leaders
The company asserts that the administration’s actions to designate Anthropic as a supply chain risk and order its removal from all federal agencies are retaliatory and not based on risk to national security.
Artificial Intelligence