b'Forum: Evolving Use of Artificial Intelligence in Government budgets to support implementation of the technology. Agencies should also consider how much staff time will be necessary to get an AI system up and running, especially in cases where employees must upload a trove of data and information. Start small. Artificial intelligence, like most new technologies, is best tested on a small scale before it is deployed fully. Using a pilot program enables people to get familiar and comfortable with the technology and catch errors and correct course. And it enables the system to improve.It is always about the data. AI is data hungry. One of the most common challenges with using AI is data access, availability, and quality. The more and better quality the Additionally, making contracting easier could lead to newdata, the better its performance and accuracy. However, and innovative services and technologies for our countrymost government data and information is contained in as more first-time contractors, small businesses, and othersseparate agencies and, in many cases, the data is limited. become willing to bid for defense contracts. ExpandingAll agencies should ensure quality data and information the number of potential bidders could help the departmentare available for training, testing, using, and refining AI supply better products and services to the warfighter faster,systems. and at lower cost. A successful pilot can help give otherAgency expertise in artificial intelligence could boost agencies an AI approach to emulateone that wouldAIs potential. Agencies will need a robust federal simplify and speed up what is now a mystifying governmentAI workforce to manage the growth and potential of necessity. The acquisition workforce no longer will have tothese technology systems. These experts could serve spend hours trying to find and make sense of regulations,as the repository of AI knowledge for agency program and employees would have more time to focus on otherand could work directly on projects when teams lack mission-critical work. AI expertise. However, agencies likely will encounter challenges with attracting AI experts, as they have with Recommendations for Getting Startedcybersecurity experts. Therefore, they should prepare for The people interviewed in the drafting of The Futurea probable shortage of AI talent in government and look Has Begun report shared several insights for governmentfor ways to work with AI experts in the private sector and leaders seeking to use AI. Most of their ideas focused onacademia.the transformation their organizations went through whenGovernment could work with outside experts, starting to use AI. particularly at colleges and universities. Colleges and Not every task should be augmented by artificialuniversities have a tremendous amount of artificial intelligence. Agencies and project teams should firstintelligence expertise and ongoing research and discuss what role artificial intelligence could play indevelopment programs and projects, and some have their work, what tasks AI could make easier, and whatdesignated AI departments. Agencies could conceivably outcomes they expect AI to help them achieve. AI isrealize an added benefit if, while working with AI not a silver bullet, and it is not appropriate for everydepartments, public service piques the interest of college challenge. and university students and researchers who could take Do not underestimate the upfront investment needed.their skills to the public sector.Once agencies and project teams identify areas where AI can help them achieve their missions, they need to consider the resources they will need, including experts with knowledge of AI systems and how to use them, and 58 www.businessofgovernment.org The Business of Government'