If you have an item that we should include in this news download, or a source we should review for future items, please email me at [email protected].
AI is destabilizing ‘the concept of truth itself’ in 2024 election
The Washington Post (January 22, 2024)
The rise of AI deepfakes in politics is creating a new challenge in discerning truth, with politicians worldwide dismissing controversies as AI fabrications, while some real fabrications swirl (See: Democratic presidential candidate Dean Phillips). This trend underscores the growing influence of AI on democracy and public trust and the critical need for a stronger information-integrity system.
OpenAI announces first partnership with a university
CNBC (January 18, 2024)
OpenAI has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Arizona State University (ASU), providing the university full access to ChatGPT Enterprise for various academic uses, including coursework and research. This collaboration will enable ASU to develop personalized AI tutors, AI avatars for study assistance, and expand their prompt engineering course, showcasing a significant integration of AI in higher education not dissimilar to our own work with the AI for Impact Co-op Program.
Can Chatbots Transform the Unemployment Claim Experience?
GovTech (January 17, 2024)
Wisconsin and Nevada are shaking up the unemployment claims process, rolling out bots to make things smoother and more user-friendly for people dealing with unemployment paperwork. Just another home-hitting example of how AI holds the potential to change how governments serve residents for the better.
Can NIST get it all done?
NextGov (January 17, 2024)
The very talented, albeit small, tech agency has “a big share of the responsibility for executing on the Biden administration's executive order on artificial intelligence.” Could this be an ideal opportunity to use new technologies to crowdsource more expertise, as we did with patents years ago?
OpenAI announces team to build ‘crowdsourced’ governance ideas into its models
TechCrunch (January 16, 2024)
OpenAI is stepping up its game by forming a team to integrate public feedback into AI governance, ensuring their technology aligns with societal values. This forward-thinking move aims to balance innovation with responsible AI development, amidst heightened regulatory focus.
House lawmakers join push for agencies to disclose public-impacting AI uses
Government Executive (January 16, 2024)
In a move to boost transparency, House members are rallying behind a bill that would require federal agencies to inform people when AI impacts their lives, echoing a similar Senate effort. Disclosure is important but, more importantly, we need to ensure that we are not ceding important decision-making to machines. To better our systems and efficiency, it’s key for tech to be on tap, but not on top.
White House looks to eliminate college degree requirements for cyber jobs with federal contractors
Government Executive (January 16, 2024)
The change comes as part of a White House effort “to reduce unnecessary barriers” federal contractors face in filling cybersecurity jobs. This is a hugely important development: the national movement we’re seeing toward skills-based hiring can only be more equitable and more effective than relying solely on degrees.
