Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a report on the implementation and management of Artificial Intelligence across federal agencies, highlighting significant inconsistencies in how these technologies are being inventoried and governed. The report, which reviewed the practices of 20 federal agencies, found that many are failing to fully comply with the executive orders and official guidance requiring them to create and maintain comprehensive inventories of their AI use cases. These inventories are a critical first step for managing the risks associated with AI, such as potential inaccuracies, biases, or privacy infringements.

The GAO's findings indicate that while progress has been made, there are notable gaps in risk management and oversight. Several agencies had incomplete inventories or had not developed adequate processes for assessing and mitigating the risks posed by their AI systems. The report emphasizes the necessity for stronger governance frameworks to ensure that the federal government's use of AI is effective, ethical, and accountable. The GAO issued a series of recommendations aimed at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and other agencies to improve the quality of AI inventories, enhance risk management practices, and ensure that the deployment of AI aligns with federal mandates and public trust.