This Insights post is a part of a series about the use and adoption of AI within the government. Read the first Insights post, “Yes. We Do Need Chief AI Officers” here.
The workforce, particularly the federal government, has had to weather integration of technological advancements in the past. The latest federal cloud migration initiatives and remote work are recent advancements that necessitated adjustment not only to the work itself but also to the personnel involved. The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly its evolution into a tool accessible not only to technologically proficient individuals but also to a broad range of users, represents the forthcoming wave of technology integration that the federal workforce must comprehend.
Recently, Vice President Kamala Harris announced the administration’s guidance on the adoption of AI for the departments and agencies across the federal government. This policy guidance follows the Executive Order signed by President Biden in October of last year and seeks to, amongst many things, grow the cadre of AI professionals serving within the government. (See the Department of Homeland Security’s AI-focused hiring website.) But the hiring of staff with specialized skills in the area isn’t and cannot be the only way the federal government increases the aptitude of the departments and agencies serving the administration. Leaders must look for ways to integrate the technology at the same time as leading adoption of the new toolsets throughout their workforce.
What does this look like strategically? First, understand where the workforce’s skills are before setting goals for increasing staff knowledge and abilities. (Check out the Chief Human Capital Officers Council’s “The AI in Government Act of 2020 – Artificial Intelligence Competencies”.) The upskilling of the current workforce will depend on meeting people where they are and growing from there. Tactically, this will mean not only identifying (or creating) the correct training that are tailored to meet current skills and assisting in upskilling to meet department goals, but it will also be helping the workforce to manage the change.
The fear, by many, of jobs being eliminated by AI is very real, the reality – and a sentiment that can be communicated efficiently by leaders – is that the technology isn’t quite there yet and that advancing alongside the technology will be powerful and empowering. Just as the workforce has survived the disruptions of cloud and remote work, the increased productivity will enhance the workforce’s ability to serve the nation through increased efficiencies.
