Smarter Gov Tech, Stronger MerITocracy

John Curran

MeriTalk

John Curran is MeriTalk's Managing Editor covering the intersection of government and technology.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said on April 10 that it has dismantled a global phishing operation while working with Indonesian authorities in what officials described as a first-of-its-kind joint cyber investigation. […]

The performance gap between United States and Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) models has “effectively closed,” even as the United States maintains a strong lead in data center infrastructure and investment, according to a new report released April 13 by the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence. […]

USDA Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched a new research network aimed at testing and advancing agricultural technologies  – including those employing artificial intelligence (AI) – under real-world farming conditions. […]

Federal agencies are facing significant barriers to scaling artificial intelligence technologies due to outdated IT systems, workforce shortages, and governance challenges despite widespread interest in implementing the technology, according to a new survey from Ernst & Young LLP (EY). […]

Cybersecurity

Legislation reintroduced in the House, and filed in the Senate, on March 31 would direct the Labor Department (DOL) to create a dedicated grant program to increase access to registered apprenticeship programs in cybersecurity. […]

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) is charting progress against an extensive to-do list that the intelligence community leader said is advancing the Cyber Strategy for America issued by President Donald Trump earlier this month. […]

Travis Hoppe is stepping down as acting chief AI officer (CAIO) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), he disclosed in a social media post. […]

Guidance issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) last year on how to accelerate the federal government’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies falls short in addressing key privacy risks, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said in a report issued on March 26. […]

Budget Federal spending

A broad-based collection of trade and interest groups and government employee unions is asking members of the House and Senate to get behind bipartisan legislation that would make sure federal workers, service members, active-duty reservists, and covered contractors are paid “during any lapse in appropriations.” […]

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is short on skilled employees to develop artificial intelligence (AI) tools – and a plan to address that problem – the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said in a report issued on March 24. […]

John Curran
MeriTalk