By Steve Neavling
The Department of Homeland Security announced Monday that it set to become the first federal agency to use artificial intelligence with a group of pilot projects.
The idea is to use chatbots and other tools to help curb drug and human trafficking crimes, prepare emergency preparedness, train immigration officials, identify perpetrators, and detect fentanyl-related networks
“One cannot ignore it,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said of AI in an interview with The New York Times. “And if one isn’t forward-leaning in recognizing and being prepared to address its potential for good and its potential for harm, it will be too late and that’s why we’re moving quickly.”
Homeland Security plans to partner with OpenAI, Anthropic and Meta.
“We cannot do this alone,” Eric Hysen, the department’s chief information officer and head of A.I., said. “We need to work with the private sector on helping define what is responsible use of a generative A.I.”
Federal agencies are coming under increasing pressure to embrace AI, while civil liberties groups are urging for more privacy and equity.
Under the plan, Homeland Security would hire 50 AI experts and spend $5 million to use AI models like ChatGPT.
By year’s end, the agency will report the results of its pilots.
