GSA Blog

Empowering responsible AI: How expanded AI training is preparing the government workforce

Over the last ten years, the government is embracing technology tools that are simple, personalized, and easy to use. As the leading government provider of technology and acquisition services, GSA is charged with ensuring that all government agencies—and employees—have the tools and knowledge they need to deliver the best in digital government services for the American people.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides agencies with new opportunities to streamline government services, optimize operations toward mission delivery, and improve the overall efficiency with which the government interacts with American citizens. But for the government workforce, understanding how to responsibly use these technologies as part of their workflow is a key factor toward harnessing the potential AI brings.

Training is key to making sure employees across government are well-informed about how to use new technologies safely and effectively. This fall, from September 4 to October 29, GSA’s AI Community of Practice partnered with the Office of Management and Budget to offer the expanded 2024 AI Training Series for Government Employees. The AI training series built off of the initial success of the 2023 training by increasing the number of live and virtual session offerings, all of which were created to educate government employees about responsible use of AI technologies across all levels and sectors within government.

More than 14,000 participants registered from nearly 200 government organizations across 21 unique sessions, and participants reported an average 92% satisfaction rating.

“I found this was a very interesting and engaging level to understand some of the characteristics and applications of AI,” said one participant. “The presenter was terrific.”

Tracks

This year’s expanded AI training series offered three tracks to meet the government workforce’s diverse needs, and accommodate learners at all levels. Each track was designed and delivered by leading academic institutions including the George Washington University Law School, the Stanford University Institute for Human-Centered AI, and the Princeton Center for Information Technology Policy. The three track curricula included the following thematic focuses:

• Acquisitions: Equipping government employees with knowledge about effectively procuring and managing the use of AI technologies.
• Leadership and Policy: Empowering government leaders with the insights and strategies necessary to carefully guide responsible AI initiatives and adoption within their agencies.
• Technical: Increasing government employees technical knowledge of developing, deploying, and governing AI technologies.

In partnership with OMB, and in fulfilment of the AI Training Act [PDF], these tracks were grounded in key principles of AI safety, transparency, and trustworthiness. Since 2020, government use of AI continues to be a critical topic of interest, particularly with regard to these principles. In addition to the AI in Government Act and Advancing American AI Act, directives from AI E.O. 13960 and AI E.O. 14110, as well as OMB’s first government-wide AI policies, M-24-10 [PDF] and M-24-18 [PDF], continue to shape discourse with regard to responsible use of AI in government. Crucially, these trainings account for the importance of ensuring government employees understand their unique roles in exploring how responsible use of AI can improve government operations and service delivery, no matter the job position they hold or the technical background they possess.

“This was incredibly interesting today,” said another participant. “It really opens up a whole new way of looking at this technology. It’s exciting to see the future of the use of AI agents as these smaller models continue to become more advanced themselves.”

Additional opportunities

For those unable to attend, the recordings from the 2024 live sessions are being rebroadcast starting this week, and interested government employees can register online.

Early next year, the AI CoP will add the 2024 recordings to the Community Connect page. Starting in Q2 of FY25, agencies will be able to upload the modules directly to their learning systems through Community Connect, and view the e-learning modules on the FAI CSOD system.

Federal employees can currently access recordings of the 2023 AI training sessions by visiting the AI CoP Community Connect page and logging in with a .gov or .mil email. These sessions are also eligible for Continuous Learning Points on FAI.gov for the acquisition workforce. If you are a government employee who is unable to access the Community Connect page, please email aicop@gsa.gov with “Request for AI Training Links” in the subject line.

Join the AI community

The AI CoP is a pivotal network for government employees engaged in or interested in artificial intelligence dedicated to accelerating the responsible and thoughtful adoption of AI technologies across the government. It aims to extend its collaborations with industry and academia, provide more high-value AI training sessions, and continue hosting impactful AI related events. Government employees can join the AI CoP mailing list.