All Federal Agencies Asked to Appoint Chief AI Officers

The White House has unveiled fresh directives outlining the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) by U.S. federal agencies. One of the directives instructs all federal agencies to appoint a Chief AI Officer (CAIO).

Issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the new policy directs the protection of rights and safety. Government agencies will now be mandated to ensure that AI tools they utilize do not jeopardize the rights and safety of Americans.

Sharing an example, Vice President Kamala Harris says: “If the Veterans Administration wants to use AI in VA hospitals to help doctors diagnose patients, they would first have to demonstrate that AI does not produce racially biased diagnoses.”

The second binding requirement pertains to transparency. Harris says that it is imperative that Americans are informed about the when and how of the government's utilization of AI, ensuring its responsible deployment.

“We want to do it in a way that holds leaders accountable for the responsible use of AI.  Transparency often, and we believe, should facilitate accountability,” Harris says.

Lastly, all federal agencies have been instructed to appoint CAIOs possessing the requisite experience, expertise, and authority to supervise all AI technologies utilized within the agency.

“These three new requirements have been shaped in consultation with leaders from across the public and private sectors, from computer scientists to civil rights leaders to legal scholars and business leaders,” Harris adds.