Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Government Execs Must Be Brave, Bold and Benevolent' to Hasten AI Adoption, Experts Say

24/10/2020

Hundreds of technology experts from the public and private sectors, as well as academia, came together earlier this month for NVIDIA's GPU Technology Conference to discuss U.S. federal agency adoption of AI and how industry can help.

Leaders from dozens of organizations, including the U.S. Department of Defense, the Federal Communication Commission, Booz Allen Hamilton, Lockheed Martin, NASA, RAND Corporation, Carnegie Mellon and Stanford Universities, participated in approximately 100 sessions that were part of GTC's Public Sector Summit.

They talked about the need to accelerate efforts in a number of areas, including education, access to data and computing resources, funding and research. Many encouraged government executives and federal agencies to act with a greater sense of urgency.

Artificial intelligence is inspiring the greatest technological transformation of our time, Anthony Robbins, vice president of federal at NVIDIA, said in a panel with former Federal CIO Suzette Kent and retired Lt. Gen. Jack Shanahan during one of the talks focused on Building an AI Nation. The train has left the station, Robbins said. In fact, it's already roaring down the tracks.

We're in a critical period with the United States government, Shanahan said during the panel. We have to get it right. This is a really important conversation.

Just Get Started These and other speakers cited a common theme: agencies need to get started now. But this requires a cultural shift, which Kent spoke of as one of the most significant challenges she experienced as federal CIO.

In any kind of transformation the tech is often the easy part, she said, noting that the only way to get people on board across the U.S. government - one of the largest and most complex institutions in the world - is to focus on return on investment for agency missions.

In a session titled Why Leaders in Both the Public and Private Sectors Should Embrace Exponential Changes in Data, AI, and Work, David Bray, former Senior National Intelligence Service Executive, FCC CIO, and current inaugural director and founder of the GeoTech Center at the Atlantic Council, tackled the same topic, saying that worker buy-in was important not just for AI adoption but also for its sustainability.

If you only treat this as a tech endeavor, you might get it right, but it won't stick, Bray said. What you're doing isn't an add-on to agencies - this is transforming how the government does business.

Make Data a Priority Data strategy came up repeatedly as an important component to the future of federal AI.

Less than an hour before a GTC virtual fireside chat with Robbins and DoD Chief Data Officer David Spirk, the Pentagon released its first enterprise data strategy.

The document positions the DoD to become a data-centric organization, but implementing the strategy won't be easy, Spirk said. It will require an incredible amount of orchestration among the numerous data pipelines flowing in and out of the Pentagon and its service branches.

Data is a strategic asset, he said. It's a high-interest commodity that has to be leveraged for both immediate and lasting advantage.

Kent and Shanahan agreed that data is critical. Kent said agency chief data officers need to think of the federal government as one large enterprise with a huge repository of data rather than silos of information, considering how the government at large can leverage an agency's data.

Invest in Exponential Change The next few years will be crucial for the government's adoption of AI, and experts say more investment will be needed.

To start, the government will have to address the AI talent gap. The exact extent of the talent shortage is difficult to measure, but job website statistics show that demand for workers far exceeds supply, according to a study by Georgetown University's Center for Security and Emerging Technology.

One way to do that is for the federal government to set aside money to help small and mid-sized universities develop AI programs.

Another is to provide colleges and universities with access to more computing resources and federal datasets, according to John Etchemendy, co-director of the Human Centered Artificial Intelligence at Stanford University, who spoke during a session with panelists from academia and think tanks. That would accelerate R&D and help students become more proficient at data science.

Government investment in AI research will also be key in helping agencies move forward. Without a significant increase, the United States will fall behind, Martijn Rasser, senior fellow at the Center for New American Security, said during the panel discussion. CNAS recently released a report calling for $25 billion per year in federal AI investment by 2025.

The RAND Corp. released a congressionally mandated assessment of the DoD's AI posture last year that recommended defense agencies need to create mechanisms for connecting AI researchers, technology developers and operators. By allowing operators to be part of the process at every stage, they'll be more confident and trusting of the new technology, Danielle Tarraf, senior information scientist at RAND, told the panel. Tarraf highlighted that many of these recommendations were applicable government-wide.

Michael McQuade, vice president of research at Carnegie Mellon University and a member of the Defense Innovation Board, argued that it's crucial that we start delivering solutions now. Building confidence is key to continue to justify the increasing support from authorizers and appropriators for the crucial national investments in Al.

By framing AI in the context of both broad AI innovations and individual use cases, government can elucidate why it's so important to knock down barriers and get the money in the right place, said
LINK: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/2020/10/23/gtc-public-sector-summit/...
See more stories from nvidia

Most recent headlines

27/11/2025

Vizrt Launches Viz One 8.1 With AI-Powered Features

LONDON Vizrt has added several AI-driven advanced features offering improved speed, intelligence and accuracy in the newest version of its media asset managemen...

27/11/2025

Prime Video Debuts AI-Powered Video Recaps

Prime Video has launched AI-powered video season recaps in a beta version for select English-language Prime Original series in the U.S., a move Amazon is callin...

27/11/2025

Sky unveils first look image from high-stakes action thriller Prisoner, coming 2026

Tahar Rahim and Izuka Hoyle star in the gripping six-part Sky Original from Acad...

27/11/2025

Sky Arts Reveals the Nations Greatest Basslines and Queen Reign Supreme

Thursday 27 November 2025 Sky Arts Reveals the Nation's Greatest Basslines - and Queen Reign Supreme The UK's most iconic basslines have been revealed...

27/11/2025

Stranger Things 5': Prepare for One Last Adventure With Our Final Season Coverage Guide

Back to All News Stranger Things 5': Prepare for One Last Adventure With O...

27/11/2025

Elastic Compute for a Sustainable Media Industry

The media industry has a paradox at its core. It's an industry built on light, color and imagination, yet behind the scenes, it's powered by one of the ...

27/11/2025

Arqiva Achieves Five-Star GRESB Rating

Rating reflects rating progress across areas including policies, diversity & inclusion, health & safety and Net Zero leadership Winchester, UK, 27 November 202...

27/11/2025

Retail Media Audits Explained: What Networks Need to Know

What are the industry standards for Retail Media? Kathryn explains that certification is based on the IAB Europe Retail Media Measurement Standards and the IAB ...

27/11/2025

Katie Taylor, Rachael Blackmore and Arthur Gourounlian among the guests on this week's Late Late Show

World champion boxer and Irish sporting icon Katie Taylor will be in studio this...

27/11/2025

Tonight on RT Prime Time, serious child protection concerns emerge over online gaming platform, Roblox

Roblox, one of the world's most popular online gaming platforms for primary ...

27/11/2025

The Ultimate Black Friday Deal Is Here

Black Friday is leveling up. Get ready to score one of the biggest deals of the season - 50% off the first three months of a new GeForce NOW Ultimate membership...

26/11/2025

SVG Sit-Down: Prime Video EP Mike Muriano Previews Massive Black Friday Slate Featuring NFL, NBA, and Golf

SVG Sit-Down: Prime Video EP Mike Muriano Previews Massive Black Friday Slate Fe...

26/11/2025

Inside the Archives: Winter Is in the Air and in Our Festival Films

A cinematic snow sculpture at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival. Photo by Randall Michelson...

26/11/2025

10 Book Podcasts You Can't Miss

Book podcasts are booming. On Spotify, you'll find everything from celebrity book clubs to deep dives with bestselling authors. And in markets where audiobo...

26/11/2025

JioStar and Nielsen Unveil Breakthrough Cross-Screen MeasurementStudy, Redefining Advertising Effectiveness in Live Sports

Mumbai, November 24, 2025: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, JioStar, in collab...

26/11/2025

ITN Deploys IP-Based Production Control Room

LONDON Factual content producer ITN Productions has launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins....

26/11/2025

YouTube TV, TelevisaUnivision End Lengthy Blackout

MIAMI TelevisaUnivision said it struck a new multiyear distribution agreement with YouTube TV that includes distribution of TelevisaUnivision's U.S. network...

26/11/2025

OpenDrives Bridges the Gap Between IT and Creatives with...

OpenDrives, Inc., a leader in software-defined data storage and data services, today announced the launch of the Atlas Corporate Creative Solution. This new Atl...

26/11/2025

Disguise to Showcase Future of Event Visuals at LDI 2025

Disguise, the industry-leading company powering the world's biggest live performances, is partnering with pioneering LED wall manufacturer DVS to give atten...

26/11/2025

HighField AI Expands Global Channel Partner Network to Ac...

HighField AI, the pioneer in agentic and multimodal automation for broadcast and media production, today announced the expansion of its global channel partner n...

26/11/2025

Mono Streaming selects PlayBox Neo to manage English Prem...

As high-stakes Premier League fixtures approach and additional premium content launches, with MONO positioning themselves to dominate Thailand's sports stre...

26/11/2025

Bell Centre arena in Montreal elevates fan experience wit...

Hosting a wide variety of events from high-intensity NHL games to complex live music concerts and major entertainment productions, Montreal's 21,000 capacit...

26/11/2025

Vizrt launches AI-powered advances for speed and accuracy...

Vizrt, the leader in live production technology revolutionizing viewer engagement and experience, releases AI-driven advances focusing on speed, intelligence, a...

26/11/2025

ITN Launches Low-Latency IP Control Room Powered by Teche...

ITN Productions, an award-winning factual content producer, today launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins. Responsible for delivering a leading...

26/11/2025

Ikegami Maintains Initiative in Broadcast Systems Develop...

Ikegami reports ongoing advances throughout 2025 in developing and delivering coordinated television production solutions that maximize quality, versatility and...

26/11/2025

Fubo, NBCUniversal Trade Barbs in Carriage Dispute

Following the Nov. 21 blackout of NBCUniversal channels on Fubo, the two sides have traded barbs about their inability to reach a new carriage deal....

26/11/2025

Global Sports Rights Spending to Top $78 Billion in 2030

LONDON As TV sports rights become increasingly important for both broadcasters and streamers, Ampere Analysis predicts global investment in the genre will surpa...

26/11/2025

Vubiquity Earns AWS Media & Entertainment Competency Status

LOS ANGELES Vubiquity said it has achieved the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Media & Entertainment Competency as part of the AWS Partner Network (APN). This designa...

26/11/2025

Comcast Pays $1.5 Million to Settle FCC Data Breach Probe

WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission's Enforcement Bureau said it has entered into a consent decree with Comcast calling for the cable company t...

26/11/2025

Berklee Named to the Hollywood Reporters Top Music Schools List

Berklee Named to the Hollywood Reporters Top Music Schools List The publication highlights the college's screen scoring program, industry partnerships, and ...

26/11/2025

Animated Series Love Through a Prism' Casts New Light on Romance Between Aristocrat and Exchange Student in London

Back to All News Animated Series Love Through a Prism' Casts New Light on ...

26/11/2025

NALIP Unveils Fifth Cohort of Director Incubator

Back to All News NALIP Unveils Fifth Cohort of Director Incubator Social Impact 26 November 2025 United States Link copied to clipboard The National Assoc...

26/11/2025

YouView Achieves Greenly Gold Certification for Sustainability

YouView Achieves Greenly Gold Certification for SustainabilityNov 26, 2025 YouView is proud to announce a Gold Certification award from Greenly for our perform...

26/11/2025

Netflix Deepens Partnership with Taiwan's 62nd Golden Horse Film Festival, Launches New Talent and Storytelling Initiatives

Back to All News Netflix Deepens Partnership with Taiwan's 62nd Golden Hors...

25/11/2025

Tracy Bonareri Onchoke: Winner, Young Journalist Award 2025

Tracy Bonareri Onchoke, an investigative journalist from Kenya is the winner of the Thomson Foundation's Young Journalist Award 2025. The 26-year-old-sele...

25/11/2025

SVG All-Stars: Blayke Scheer, Senior Director, Creative Content, YES Network

SVG All-Stars: Blayke Scheer, Senior Director, Creative Content, YES NetworkThe Indiana alum has turned storytelling into an artform for more than two decadesBy...

25/11/2025

Op-Ed: With FCC's C-Band Auction on the Horizon, Broadcasters Need Proven, Cost-Effective Alternatives

Op-Ed: With FCC's C-Band Auction on the Horizon, Broadcasters Need Proven, C...

25/11/2025

Analysis: Is Baller League Really the Future of Sport?

Analysis: Is Baller League really the future of sport? By Callum McCarthy, Editor-at-Large Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - 10:10 Print This Story With KSI on...

25/11/2025

Platinum Whitepaper: The Growth of Broadcast in the World of Major Large Scale Events with SOS Global

Platinum Whitepaper: The Growth of Broadcast in the World of Major Large Scale E...

25/11/2025

SVG Summit 2025 Preview: SVG Women's Sports Workshop

SVG Summit 2025 Preview: SVG Women's Sports WorkshopBy Samantha Gabay Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - 10:27 am Print This Story | Subscribe Story Highlig...

25/11/2025

SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: CacheFly's Matt Levine on the Evolving Role of the CDN and Prioritizing Throughput

SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: CacheFly's Matt Levine on the Evolving Role of th...

25/11/2025

Peacock's EA SPORTS Madden NFL Cast Levels Up on Thanksgiving With SkyCam as the Primary Angle and More Madden Elements

Peacock's EA SPORTS Madden NFL Cast Levels Up on Thanksgiving With SkyCam as...

25/11/2025

Sauna Is an Intimate Exploration of Queer Love and Identity

Mathias Broe attends the 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Sauna at Library Center Theatre. (Photo by Michael Hurcomb/Shutterstock for Sundance Film Fes...

25/11/2025

5 Reasons to Try Spotify Premium This Holiday Season

The best playlists, podcasts, and audiobooks bring a little extra magic to your daily routine. With new features and offerings, Spotify Premium delivers even mo...

25/11/2025

New Study Reveals Australians Love Discovering New Music

Comprehensive new research confirms what we already knew: Australian music fans love the quality, quantity, and access they have to new and local music on strea...

25/11/2025

Why Use a SIM Card With The SNYPER-5G

Applicable Products Objectives The purpose of this application note is to give a brief background on 5G (NR) wireless communication an explain the reason a SN...

25/11/2025

Lionsgate and Nielsen expand partnership to deliver first-ever combined FAST channel and digital network measurement

Nielsen will now measure both Lionsgate's FAST channel MovieSphere and Movie...