by Brian Chidester, Head of Global Strategy & Innovation, Public Sector at Adobe
Agencies may integrate AI technologies more swiftly without the constraints of stringent compliance requirements, potentially enhancing efficiency and service delivery.
Artificial intelligence has become integral to various sectors and in recognizing its significance, previous administrations implemented policies to guide AI development and usage.
President Donald Trump's rescission of former President Joe Biden's 2023 Executive Order 14110 on “Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence” marks a significant policy shift for federal government AI usage. Biden's order had established comprehensive safety and security guidelines for AI development, requiring developers to share safety test results with the government and directing federal agencies to assess AI-related risks.

This unequivocally marks a pivotal change in federal AI policy. The administration's stance is to minimize regulatory constraints, thereby accelerating AI innovation and maintaining a competitive edge globally. This approach is expected to influence federal AI usage in several ways:
Decentralized AI Governance: With the removal of centralized safety protocols, individual federal agencies may gain greater autonomy in developing and implementing AI systems tailored to their specific missions. This could lead to a more diverse and rapid adoption of AI technologies across various governmental functions.
Emphasis on Innovation Over Regulation: The administration's policy encourages a focus on technological advancement, potentially expediting the integration of AI solutions in federal operations. However, this may also necessitate agencies to independently establish safeguards to mitigate risks associated with AI deployment.
Industry Implications: The deregulation is anticipated to benefit tech companies by providing a more conducive environment for AI development.
Additionally, the selection of David Sacks as the AI and Crypto Czar aligns with the administration's deregulatory agenda. Sacks is tasked with developing a legal framework that promotes growth in the AI and cryptocurrency sectors, emphasizing free speech and minimizing what he and the administration view as "Big Tech bias and censorship."
His role is expected to influence policy-making, balancing the need for innovation with considerations of ethical AI deployment. The shift towards a less regulated AI environment presents both opportunities and challenges for federal agencies:
Accelerated Adoption: Agencies may integrate AI technologies more swiftly without the constraints of stringent compliance requirements, potentially enhancing efficiency and service delivery.
Risk Management: In the absence of standardized safety protocols, agencies will need to proactively develop and implement their own safeguards to address issues such as algorithmic bias, data privacy, and security vulnerabilities.
Interagency Coordination: The decentralized approach may necessitate enhanced collaboration among agencies to share best practices and ensure cohesive AI governance across the federal landscape.
Overall, the elimination of the AI executive order is poised to create a more flexible environment for AI integration within the federal government, while also placing greater responsibility on individual agencies to manage associated risks.
This approach to AI signifies a strategic pivot towards fostering innovation through deregulation. While this may accelerate the adoption and development of AI technologies within the federal government, it also places increased responsibility on individual agencies to manage associated risks.
The appointment of David Sacks as the AI and Crypto Czar further emphasizes the administration's commitment to reshaping AI policy, balancing the drive for technological advancement with the imperative of ethical and secure implementation.
Brian Chidester is the Head of Global Strategy & Innovation for Public Sector at Adobe and the host of "The Government Huddle with Brian Chidester" podcast from GovExec. Mr. Chidester holds a B.S. in Communications Studies from Liberty University, is an Advisory Board Member for Digital Government Central, an advisor to the G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance at the World Economic Forum, and a member of the Forbes Technology Council.
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