Artificial Intelligence

IARPA Wants Smarter Algorithms -- Not More of Them

Program Director Jacob Vogelstein told Nextgov why IARPA is investing in new training for AI systems.

Digital Government

Commerce Official: People Won’t Contribute to Digital Economy if They Think Data is Unsafe

Alan Davidson, Commerce’s director of digital economy, said the government needs to retool to include digital assets when regulating trade.

Emerging Tech

Here’s Why Robots Might Not Be Taking Government Jobs Any Time Soon

We still don’t understand the full psychological impact of working with robots, a new analysis concludes.

Cybersecurity

Jeh Johnson Makes ‘Hard Choices’ in Cyber Budget

In a series of budget hearings, Johnson defended the department’s $40.6 billion budget request for the upcoming fiscal year.

Digital Government

‘Reprehensible’ Homeland Security IT System 'Pissed Away' $180 Million, Says One Lawmaker

The system's failings could make it more difficult for DHS to remove poor performers, “if that ever happens at all," said Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa.

Emerging Tech

DHS Silicon Valley Office Awards First Contract to Internet of Things Startup

It's part of DHS' calculated effort to tap into the cutting-edge private sector technology -- and technology talent -- often provided by startups.

Digital Government

Following Investigation, Beleaguered Education CIO Steps Down

Harris collapsed and was taken to the hospital immediately following a congressional hearing in early February about potential misconduct.

Digital Government

White House Wants to Train K-12 Students to Be Nation’s Future Cyber Defense

The White House’s $4 billion plan for computer science curriculum in K-12 schools is about more than education reform.

Digital Government

HHS Begins Search for New CIO

The position opened up when former CIO Frank Baitman stepped down in November after a nearly 4-year tenure.

Cybersecurity

What the White House Cybersecurity Plan Says About the Internet of Things

DHS is working with Underwriters Laboratories to evaluate connected devices for safety vulnerabilities.

Digital Government

DHS Official: US Digital Service Not Only a Fix-It Team

Beyond IT troubleshooting, USDS aims to change federal employees' approach to digital services, one member says.

Artificial Intelligence

How Can You Train AI to Get Smarter? The Intelligence Community Wants to Know

IARPA wants to guard against an "AI winter," during which there's less research and less funding for AI.

Digital Government

DARPA Awards Contracts for See-Through-Walls Technology

The emerging tech agency appears to have made at least two awards for that program.

Cybersecurity

DHS Chief Promises to Expand Social Media Screening, Plans 'Aggressive' Rollout of Cyber Protections

Johnson talked social media, biometrics and cybersecurity at his annual State of Homeland Security address.

Digital Government

Lawmaker: America ‘Can Do Better,’ Contribute More to Global Tech

A recent report ranked the U.S. 10th out of 56 nations because of factors including relatively lower R&D funding.

Emerging Tech

Obama's Budget Would Grow Federal R&D By 4 Percent

The president's 2017 fiscal year budget boosts total research and development funding to $152 billion.

Digital Government

Special Ops Wants Wearable Sensors Without Blind Spots

SOCOM is seeking a wearable system that can correct the error, known as “parallax,” which occurs combining visual feeds from offset sensors.

Digital Government

HHS Deciding Whether to Revive its Future Tech Prediction Project

A new, higher-tech system could update the discontinued program, which identified medical technology worth further research.

Artificial Intelligence

New Competition Seeks Robots That Can Handle a To-Do List

NIST is looking for a way to evaluate a robot's agility before it gets deployed on a factory floor.

Emerging Tech

More Than a Third of Americans Would Undergo Iris Scans for Better Government Services

About 67 percent of respondents would share their cellphone numbers with the federal government if it meant personalized services such as expedited passport processing, but far fewer -- 35 percent -- would offer iris scans.