Every US federal agency must hire a chief AI officer

All US federal agencies are now required to have a senior leader overseeing all AI systems they use to ensure safe AI use in the public service.

Vice President Kamala Harris announced the new Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance, requiring agencies to establish AI governance boards and submit annual reports listing AI systems used, associated risks, and risk mitigation plans.

Federal agencies must designate a chief AI officer with the expertise to oversee AI technologies and establish governance boards by the summer.

This guidance expands on policies outlined in the Biden administration’s AI executive order, aiming to create safety standards and increase AI talent within government offices.

The US government plans to hire 100 AI professionals by the summer, and agencies have already begun hiring chief AI officers, such as Jonathan Mayer at the Department of Justice.

Agencies’ AI officers and governance committees are responsible for frequent monitoring of AI systems and must submit an inventory of AI products used, evaluating safety risks and ensuring safeguards against algorithmic discrimination.

Federal agencies also have to verify that any deployed AI meets safeguards to mitigate discrimination risks and provide transparency into government AI usage.

If agencies cannot apply these safeguards, they must cease using the AI system unless justified by increased safety risks or unacceptable impediments to critical agency operations.

Under the new guidance, government-owned AI models, code, and data should be released to the public unless they pose a risk to government operations.

The United States currently lacks laws regulating AI, but the AI executive order provides guidelines for government agencies under the executive branch on how to approach the technology.