Advances in science and innovation can quickly end up being indispensable in our every day lives and to the country as a whole. Congress requires reliable, prompt information on topics related to science and innovation as fast advancements increase intricacy and impact the economy, national security and more.
At the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), we have reacted to this requirement by deepening our science and technology abilities and tripling the size of our group devoted to science, innovation assessments and analytics (STAA) over the last three years.
In the wake of the collapse of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange, Matthew Mittelsteadt’s Nov. 16 short article presented an outdated view of GAO’s capacity to support Congress on science and innovation (S&T) issues. Mr. Mittelstead mentioned that GAO “does not have technical devotion,” “has only ever produced 5 AI-centric reports,” is “glacial” in its research and lacks a “robust corps of devoted experts.” As GAO’s primary scientist and co-leader of the STAA group, I am proud of the work we do to meet Congress’s growing demand for information on the really subjects Mr. Mittelsteadt describes.
Since STAA’s beginning, we have quickly and considerably expanded GAO’s capability to offer Congress with prompt and appropriate foresight, oversight and insight on the most important problems of our time– including everything pointed out in Mr. Mittelsteadt’s post and far more. Here are the truths:
- Large, dedicated professional personnel. Given that 2019, we have actually employed more than 140 interdisciplinary personnel (consisting of many with postgraduate degrees in science or engineering) to develop a remarkably deep and broad congressional S&T talent pool.Extensive committee assistance. We have dealt with 23 congressional committees, testified 10 times on S&T problems and provided S&T assistance for 25 other GAO S&T associated testimonies.Reports on pushing S&T problems. We have actually released&48 technology assessments and short-form explainers on S&T issues. Through these assessments, GAO has actually leveraged the expertise of 280 leading professionals on subjects such as blockchain, quantum computing, vaccine advancement, zero-trust architectures( ZTA) and deep fakes.Expanding science work across GAO. We have supplied engineering sciences insight for 78 GAO reports. Our work incorporates all sizes of federal programs, including those vital to our national security.
- Our work portfolios run deep, and our enduring focus on artificial intelligence (AI )work is no exception. Specifically, In-depth AI innovation evaluation. We delivered holistic, reliable and timely work( culminating in
my affirming with other global leaders )in our very first AI innovation evaluation, which explored the issues of its impact in cybersecurity
- , criminal justice, transportation and monetary markets.AI in healthcare. We have recently teamed up with the National Academy of Medication on three AI-related technology assessments in healthcare– consisting of drug development, care delivery and medical diagnostics.AI Responsibility Structure. We developed a first-of-its-kind AI Accountability Framework to help federal managers make sure accountable and responsible use of AI in government programs and procedures. This framework was consisted of in the White Home’s assistance for all federal companies, and is currently being used as the basis for a number of ongoing, agency-specific audits that are presently underway throughout GAO. One example is how the Department of Defense is making organizational changes to incorporate AI technology, an audit that depend on our team’s crucial contributions.AI-focused congressional training sessions. We have actually hosted trainings on artificial intelligence oversight that have actually notified more than 500 congressional staff on this intricate issue. Looking beyond AI, we supported Congress with technical know-how throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on our biologists, chemists, data researchers, public health experts and numerous others, my group provided 21 COVID-related items on subjects including infection illness modeling, social distancing, wastewater security, vaccine safety and long COVID. How innovative and compassionate reforms can broaden US work permits Do not let partisan gridlock stall vital federal government functions In the
location of digital S&T, we do more than provide premium policy analysis and oversight reports; we are also specialists. Our Innovation Laboratory Development Lab is the only entity of its kind within the legislative branch, and has state-of-the-art capabilities to perform innovative analytics and leverage emerging technologies. We’ve provided technical consulting to provide oversight dashboards
, digital items, policy simulators and experimental prototypes including AI, blockchain, zero-trust architecture and extended truth
, among others, to find how these technologies might help resolve oversight-related challenges. We have likewise used trainings for hill personnel on blockchain innovation and its usages. We value Mr. Mittelsteadt’s keeping in mind that” in the past 5 years, the GAO returned an exceptional$ 158 for each dollar budgeted. “The STAA team I co-lead will continue to develop and adapt to the 21st century needs of Congress as it battles with the dynamic opportunities and difficulties caused by S&T. Tim Persons, Ph.D., is the Government Responsibility Workplace’s primary scientist and handling director of science, technology assessment and analytics( STAA).
- , criminal justice, transportation and monetary markets.AI in healthcare. We have recently teamed up with the National Academy of Medication on three AI-related technology assessments in healthcare– consisting of drug development, care delivery and medical diagnostics.AI Responsibility Structure. We developed a first-of-its-kind AI Accountability Framework to help federal managers make sure accountable and responsible use of AI in government programs and procedures. This framework was consisted of in the White Home’s assistance for all federal companies, and is currently being used as the basis for a number of ongoing, agency-specific audits that are presently underway throughout GAO. One example is how the Department of Defense is making organizational changes to incorporate AI technology, an audit that depend on our team’s crucial contributions.AI-focused congressional training sessions. We have actually hosted trainings on artificial intelligence oversight that have actually notified more than 500 congressional staff on this intricate issue. Looking beyond AI, we supported Congress with technical know-how throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on our biologists, chemists, data researchers, public health experts and numerous others, my group provided 21 COVID-related items on subjects including infection illness modeling, social distancing, wastewater security, vaccine safety and long COVID. How innovative and compassionate reforms can broaden US work permits Do not let partisan gridlock stall vital federal government functions In the