Emerging Tech

NSF pitches Congress on the potential of quantum technology

The National Science Foundation made a case for robust congressional funding in emerging tech research following budget cuts to the agency this year.

Artificial Intelligence

DHS launches new AI safety and security board

The board will be made up of 22 representatives from private sector, government and academia and will advise Secretary Mayorkas on risk mitigation for AI in critical infrastructure. 

People

DHS names Michael Boyce to lead its AI Corps

The AI Corps program — modeled after the White House’s U.S. Digital Service — is intended to bring teams of experts to bear on the agency’s most critical mission needs.

Artificial Intelligence

Commerce seeks insight on how to make its data more AI-friendly

A new request for information issued by the Department of Commerce asks for expert commentary on how the agency can better structure and disseminate its publicly available data.

Digital Government

HHS issues final rule to expand HIPAA coverage for reproductive data

The rule comes in response to health data security concerns arising out of the 2022 overturn of abortion protections established by Roe v. Wade.

Emerging Tech

Decoding distinctions in biometrics

Though some developers describe facial recognition and analysis as “completely different technologies,” privacy advocates argue they remain the same in the kinds of dangers they pose.

Artificial Intelligence

Senate bill aims to bring more private sector participation to federal AI innovation

The latest piece of AI-focused legislation seeks to make private sector collaboration a top priority for several agencies.

Artificial Intelligence

House committee introduces 5 guardrails for internal AI use

The Committee on House Administration released its April AI Flash Report reviewing past and present agenda items to implement AI systems in legislative operations.

Artificial Intelligence

NIST adds 5 new members to its AI Safety Institute

The new members will focus on AI objectives related to national security, standards development and more.

Artificial Intelligence

Five Eyes agencies issue guidance on securing AI

The new best practices aim to help organizations deploying AI to secure their digital environments, with a particular focus on protecting AI model weights and extensive system vigilance.

Emerging Tech

Los Alamos National Lab unveils new supercomputer primed for AI

NVIDIA, Hewlett Packard, and the Department of Energy jointly bought a new supercomputer to the New Mexico lab outfitted for processing large volumes of data.

Emerging Tech

EEOC says HR software company Workday should face bias claims in lawsuit

The federal agency filed an amicus brief in a case in which a job applicant is alleging algorithmic discrimination.

Artificial Intelligence

USPTO says existing rules apply to AI-crafted submissions

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office reaffirmed its existing regulations will apply to AI-assisted applications and filings.

Artificial Intelligence

State Dept. seeks employee volunteers to test AI chatbot

The State Department is piloting an internal chatbot backed by artificial intelligence technology, and will leverage internal sensitive but unclassified data.

Emerging Tech

FTC names winners in AI voice authentication challenge

Winners came from the private sector and academia as the agency continues its crackdown on AI-generated voice cloning.

Artificial Intelligence

5 agencies join Justice in pledge to protect civil rights against AI-fueled discrimination

The agencies pledged to use their existing enforcement authorities to tackle cases where artificial intelligence may impact Americans’ civil rights.

Artificial Intelligence

US, EU update shared AI taxonomy, unveil new research alliance

At the conclusion of the sixth meeting of the US-EU Trade and Technology Council, leaders focused on creating uniformity in AI terminology and continuing transatlantic collaboration.

Emerging Tech

FTC rejects software companies’ bid to use facial recognition to verify user age

The Federal Trade Commission voted unanimously against approving a software verification tool that would use biometrics to meet requirements under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule.

Emerging Tech

Deepfakes will be a ‘big problem’ for the 2024 election, officials say

Leaders from the Federal Election Commission and the National Intelligence Council noted that bad actors’ capabilities are increasing, while the government’s policing capabilities remain limited.