HHS Releases Strategic Plan for the Use of Artificial Intelligence to Enhance and Protect the Health and Well-Being of Americans

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued its AI Strategic Plan (hereafter referred to as “Strategic Plan” or “Plan”). The Plan establishes both the strategic framework and operational roadmap for responsibly leveraging emerging technologies to enhance HHS’s core mission, while maintaining our commitment to safety, effectiveness, equity, and access. Additionally, the Plan outlines the ways in which HHS will deliver on its goal of being a global leader in innovating and adopting responsible AI that achieves unparalleled advances in the health and well-being of all Americans.

“At HHS, we are optimistic about the transformational potential of AI,” said Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm. “These technologies hold unparalleled ability to drive innovation through accelerating scientific breakthroughs, improving medical product safety and effectiveness, improving health outcomes through care delivery, increasing access to human services, and optimizing public health. However, our optimism is tempered with a deep sense of responsibility. We need to ensure that Americans are safeguarded from risks. Deployment and adoption of AI should benefit the American people, and we must hold stakeholders across the ecosystem accountable to achieve this goal.”

HHS is mobilizing an approach to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, accessibility, equitability, and outcomes in health and human services through the innovative, safe, and responsible use of AI. The Plan outlines four ways HHS will accomplish this by focusing on four key goals:

1. Catalyze health AI innovation and adoption to unlock new ways to use AI to improve people’s lives;
2. Promote trustworthy AI development and ethical and responsible use to avoid potential harm;
3. Democratize AI technologies and resources to promote equitable access for all; and
4. Cultivate AI-empowered workforces and organizational cultures to allow staff to make the best use of AI.

This Plan builds on existing work across the Department to develop policy and regulations, allocate resources, conduct outreach and education programs, and cultivate the workforce related to AI. As AI rapidly evolves in the coming months and years, HHS will adopt a dynamic approach to AI to stay ahead of developments while addressing emerging challenges. This will be achieved through updates to the Plan, continuous risk assessment, stakeholder engagement, and the implementation of robust safeguards that ensure ethical and equitable AI use.

Review the AI Strategic Plan to learn more about how HHS is protecting patients’ rights and safety, while encouraging innovation, as AI is developed and deployed for health care, human services, and public health.

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