AI as Your New Colleague

For decades, science fiction movies stoked fears that “machines will replace people.” With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), the fear moved off the screen and into the workplace. The reality is this fear is largely unfounded, but AI is having a tremendous impact on how we work.

AI technology allows machines to do what they are best at — fast computation of large data sets — freeing up humans to do what they do best: analyzing and making sense of the data produced. This analysis is higher-level work and frequently involves training to rethink how we can use the data produced by AI to do our jobs and deliver on organizations’ missions in new ways. The new reality is that while machines will not replace people, those who refuse to adopt and adapt to AI-enabled tools may find themselves replaced by others who will.

AI’s impact on the government mission

AI’s ability to quickly read data and identify patterns is taking the data-review effort away from humans and shifting their efforts to analysis of AI-discovered patterns and insights. This means instead of spending time reading reports and correlating findings, humans can instead immediately begin testing hypotheses and applying findings to their work. Examples of how AI in government is accelerating discovery and action include:

• Diagnosing and treating brain injuries: The Department of Defense (DoD) is looking to AI to detect traumatic brain injuries more quickly — enabling treatment, and eventual recovery, to be more effective.
• Stopping fraud: The state of Utah has been using AI to flag suspicious unemployment applications. In fact, Utah’s IT director found himself involved when he was contacted by human resources to ask if he had resigned. It was discovered that fraudsters had applied for benefits using his name, and AI technology flagged the claim. The use of AI can also improve the process for legitimate claims by reducing the number of forms of identification required.
• Preventing forest fires: AI was able to quickly cull through 60 DVDs worth of data from cameras, microphones, rainfall, temperature and humidity sensors, creating an algorithm to predict what is seemingly unpredictable — the path and behavior of wildfires. This allows scientists and natural resources officials to use the data to get ahead of forest fires.

Creating an AI-ready workforce

All of the data and insights produced by AI are only valuable if they are used by humans. To do so, the workforce needs to reexamine the processes and skills needed to succeed in using AI.

Florida’s Department of Management Services digitized the process of assembling its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, an effort that was largely manual and led by an individual about to retire. Rather than hiring a replacement, the agency looked at how it could improve the process, taking the institutional knowledge of the valuable employee and automating that work for the future. The new system mapped data from the relevant sources, as directed by the employee, while they were still in their position. Once completely implemented, the system will save staff time pulling, reporting, and validating data, allowing them instead to begin working on advancing programs for the next fiscal year.

Building a relationship with AI

This shift from manual effort to mission-centered work will require training on AI technology and data usage, and strategic thinking. Organizations need to prioritize offering in-house training, mentoring programs, or funding third-party training topics like:

• Digital literacy
• Leadership
• Analytics
• Project management
• Cybersecurity

It might not be as easy as the “meet cute” of a romantic comedy, but with the right application of technology and training of the workforce, people and machines can in fact live in harmony, despite what Hollywood has told us.

As the founder of GovEvents and GovWhitePapers, Kerry is on a mission to help businesses interact with, evolve, and serve the government. With 25+ years of experience in the information technology and government industries, Kerry drives the overall strategy and oversees operations for both companies. She has also served in executive marketing roles at a number of government IT providers.

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