The Future of AI in Government: What New Policies Could Mean for Innovation and Regulation
With President-Elect Donald Trump set to take office, there’s intense scrutiny surrounding the potential impacts of his policies on artificial intelligence (AI), especially in government. As reported by Time magazine, Trump has promised to repeal President Biden’s AI executive order, which laid the groundwork for AI staffing policies, ethics guidelines, anti-discrimination measures, and broad AI development and deployment across federal agencies. Such a move could substantially alter federal AI regulation and innovation landscape.
President Biden’s executive order on AI emphasized federal support for public and private AI safety research. It also promoted AI transparency, ethics, and security standards across agencies. However, as noted by Government Technology, Trump’s approach leans toward reducing federal oversight, emphasizing competitiveness with global powers like China. This deregulation is framed as a way to empower American AI companies, allowing them more flexibility to innovate without government-imposed restrictions. Supporters argue that loosening regulatory policies will stimulate growth in Big Tech and small AI startups. However, some experts worry it may diminish the emphasis on safety and ethical AI development.
Furthermore, according to Forbes, there is speculation that Trump’s policies will reduce federal backing for initiatives aimed at ensuring anti-discriminatory practices and voluntary AI safety and cybersecurity standards that were encouraged by the Biden administration. A potential reduction in regulation could speed up AI development but may increase concerns around accountability, security, and fairness.
In an unprecedented move, Vox suggests that Trump might issue an executive order launching a “Manhattan Project” for military AI. This would allocate substantial federal resources toward private-sector partnerships in developing AI applications for U.S. defense. Additionally, Trump’s plan to reinstate his 2020 Schedule F executive order, as covered by StateScoop, could make it harder for federal agencies to attract and retain top AI talent. Schedule F would reclassify certain government positions, making dismissing employees in policy-related roles easier. Federal agencies have long struggled to recruit and retain skilled AI professionals for modernization initiatives, and this reclassification could intensify those challenges, hampering the government’s ability to build AI capacity from within.
A Spotlight on State and Local AI Initiatives
In contrast to federal developments, state and local governments are making strides in AI innovation. This year’s “Digital Cities Survey” by Government Technology highlighted cities like Marietta (GA), South Bend (IN), Scottsdale (AZ), Long Beach (CA), and San Diego (CA) for their AI-driven improvements in city administration and public services. These cities offer encouraging examples of how AI can positively impact local governance and service delivery.
A survey conducted by Presidio, also highlighted by Government Technology, underscores both eagerness and caution among state and local government leaders regarding AI. CIOs and CTOs nationwide are excited about AI’s potential, yet concerns about data quality, cybersecurity, and legacy-system compatibility are still barriers to wide-scale adoption.
Local Leaders and the Role of AI in Government
A recent StateScoop interview with Alaska’s CIO highlighted promising state-level AI applications focused on improving service accessibility and efficiency. In Aurora, Illinois, the city invested nearly $140,000 to partner with the International Data Corporation Research to create a comprehensive AI ecosystem and policy evaluation framework for its government operations.
Federal agencies are also moving forward with internal pilot programs. The Air Force, for example, has developed an internal AI sandbox to explore AI-driven modernization, and the FAA recently sought vendors to supply AI solutions for analyzing flight data and assessing risks, signaling continued exploration of AI’s potential in government.