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Insights on the use of AI across government

This spring, the Partnership for Public Service surveyed its federal executive network members to better understand how artificial intelligence is being used in their offices and agencies. 

We captured career-specific insights from federal leaders working across 18 career fields, 19 agencies and 30 office subcomponents. They shared concerns, challenges and areas of optimism about the use of AI across job functions.  

Federal agencies are increasingly employing large language models, generative artificial intelligence tools and advanced chatbots to re-imagine work, streamline service delivery and enhance the customer experience. 

The insights below represent a snapshot of the current moment in the federal government as AI use evolves.  

Key findings  

• Agency leaders are cautiously optimistic about AI’s ability to lower administrative burden, increase efficiency and optimize data analysis for public benefit. 

• The most frequent challenges across all business functions are those related to governance, security and AI literacy. 

• Leaders reported their agencies currently lack the leadership, strategy, funding, tools and talent to implement safe and sophisticated AI programs.  

• Many believe iterative training, ongoing support and clear cross-agency policies are needed. 

A sampling of career-specific insights, including those from IT, Management, HR and legal fields:

AI CareerFieldInsights June2024

Career-specific insights on government use of AI. Analysis, summary and design by Kathy Freeman, Partnership for Public Service.

Though we gathered career-specific insights, we repeatedly heard the need for different offices and agencies to come together to problem-solve and share resources. 

AI leaders highlighted several helpful resources: 

• Department of Homeland Security toolkits and trainings 

• This playbook from the Office of Personnel Management  

• The White House’s AI executive order, which seeks to guide the federal government’s responsible use of AI for the public good  

• The Partnership’s AI Federal Leadership Program and Responsible AI Roundtables series, which support AI literacy for senior federal leaders 

Overwhelmingly, leaders expressed concern coupled with caution and optimism as the federal government seeks to implement, scale and responsibly use AI to deliver equitable and effective government services. 

Thanks to Rachel Bixby and Michelle Ly for research support. This project was funded by Microsoft. 

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