As part of the Biden administration’s wide-ranging executive order on artificial intelligence, many federal agencies are required to name chief AI officers (CAIOs). Charged with both promoting the use of AI and managing its risks, the officials appointed to this position will hold an enormous amount of power.
According to the order, agencies are required to identify their chief AI officers within 60 days of the Office of Management and Budget finalizing its guidance for federal use of the technology. OMB released a draft version of that guidance for public review in October. That White House memo, if formalized, would require CAIOs to coordinate their agency’s use of AI, promote AI innovation and manage AI risks, while also serving as vice chairs of their agency’s AI governance boards and determining which AI use cases might be considered “safety-” or “rights-” impacting.
While some large agencies publicly had a CAIO before President Joe Biden’s order, such as the Departments of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security, others are starting to select their own. In response to FedScoop inquiries to Chief Financial Officer Act agencies, several — including the Department of Education, General Services Administration, Department of Housing and Urban Development and the National Science Foundation — shared the names of their CAIOs. Other agencies indicated that they are waiting to name their officials until after OMB formalizes the guidance…
Source: Here’s who’s responsible for AI in federal agencies. By Rebecca Heilweil and Madison Alder, November 28, 2023. FedScoop.
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