Artificial intelligence can support the operations of companies and organizations through federal applications in the long run.
FREMONT, CA: Recent research has shown that the United States government has significantly increased its investment in artificial intelligence. More than USD 2 billion is allocated to AI research and development by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Department of Energy. This shows the government's intention to automate. A major driving force behind the push for AI is the urgent need to address burnout among federal employees. A recent study shows a much higher burnout rate among government employees than in the private sector. Burnout and stress are causing almost half of the respondents to consider leaving their government jobs in the following years.
Ensuring acceptable levels of data maturity: An effective AI strategy requires more than just dedicated funding. Agencies must begin by addressing existing processes - beginning with their level of data maturity - before implementing new technologies. Artificial intelligence can create extra work for federal workers, who may need to sort through inaccurate or incomplete data processed by AI if they need more historical data or have to organize the data they do have. When the agency reaches a baseline of data maturity, it can pilot basic AI applications such as automating basic tasks, enabling it to collect high-quality data, analyze that data, and provide insight to develop scalable AI roadmaps that integrate with other IT modernization technologies.
Understand federal employees' needs: Agencies must understand the most prevalent pain points and challenges federal employees face to implement AI that makes a real difference. In most private enterprise pilot programs, user experience surveys would be key to determining the technology's success and shortcomings based on analytics. Despite the importance of employee input in AI planning, government surveys are often expensive and can take months or years to compile.
Using AI to enhance the employee experience: To implement employee-focused AI, agencies must create a robust AI-powered employee experience program once they have established an AI baseline and understand worker needs. AI in experience management can benefit agencies in many ways, from automating timesheets to streamlining decision-making. Scaling AI beyond pilot programs remains challenging. Developing AI-enabled capabilities at scale across the defense space is one of the primary responsibilities of the CDAO.
