Now with As interest in artificial intelligence has exploded, Congress is turning its attention to ensuring that people in government learn more about the technology. US Senators Gary Peters (D-Michigan) and Mike Braun (R-Indiana) are calling for global leadership training in AI with AI Leadership Training Actthat is proceed to the entire Senate for consideration. The bill directs the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the federal government’s human resources arm, to train federal leaders on AI basics and risks. However, it is not yet mandated to teach how to use AI to improve the way government operates.
The AI Leadership Training Act is an important step in the right direction, but it needs to go beyond mandating basic AI training. OPM should be required to teach civil servants how to use AI technologies to strengthening public services by making government services more accessible, providing ongoing access to city services, helping to analyze data to understand citizens’ needs, and creating new opportunities for the public participate in democratic decision-making.
For example, cities have experiment with AI-based image generation for participatory urban planning, while San Francisco’s Chatbot PAIGE AI is helping answer business owners’ questions about how to sell to the city. Helsinki, Finland, uses a AI-powered decision-making tools to analyze data and make city policy recommendations. In Dubai, leaders are not only learn AI in general, but learning how to use ChatGPT in particular. The law should also require that OPM not only teach what AI is, but also how use it to serve the citizens.
To be consistent with practice in all other countries, the law should require such training to be free of charge. This has been the case with the military. However, on the civil side, OPM must charge a fee for its training programs. For example, a course titled Empowering 21st Century Leaders costs $2,200 per person. Even when individuals apply to their institution for reimbursement, programs often do not have a budget dedicated to upskilling.
If we want civil servants to understand AI, we cannot charge them for it. There’s also no need to do so. build on a programme created in New Jersey, six states are currently working together on a project called innovationUS to develop free face-to-face and self-paced learning in digital, data, and innovation skills. Because all content is openly licensed and specifically designed for public servants, it can easily be shared between states and also with the federal government.
The Act should also require training to be easy to find. Even if Congress requires training, public sector professionals will have a hard time finding it without the physical infrastructure to ensure that public servants can receive and track their learning. technology and data. In Germany, the federal government Digital Academy offers a single website to enhance digital skills to ensure wide participation. In contrast, in the United States, every federal agency has its own website (and sometimes more than one) where employees can search for training opportunities, and OPM does not advertise its training government-wide. federal. While the Ministry of Defense has begun construction USALearning.gov In order for all employees to finally have access to the same content, this project needs to be accelerated.
