U.S. Department of State: Increasing diplomacy through generative AI
The Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) unveiled its latest investments aimed at enhancing public services and operational efficiency across key federal agencies.
With $18.2 million in TMF funding, DOS aims to harness safe, secure, and responsible Generative AI (GenAI) to empower its widely dispersed team members to work more efficiently and improve access to enhanced information resources.
“This investment marks a pivotal moment to reshape how DOS conducts diplomacy and promotes American interests worldwide,” said Dr. Matthew Graviss, DOS Chief Data and AI Officer. “This project will enable our diplomats to focus on essential analysis and strategic engagement, boosting our efficiency and strengthening America’s global diplomatic advantage.”
U.S. General Services Administration, Technology Modernization Fund announces investments to enhance public services and efficiency for departments of Education, Commerce, and State (May 16, 2024).
Apparently the government is giving money to itself to use technology like ChatGTP and Midjourney; you know, the software that takes manmade data (text, images, audio, video, etc.) and remixes it into content that is arranged by a computer. I don’t have a problem with the generative artificial intelligence and large language models in general. Many people are vehemently opposed to it and others are a push of a button away from raising the technology as their deity of the near future.
I am intrigued by what this news may mean in practice and the danger that it imposes. The manipulation and reorganization of text, audio and visual data by AI isn’t entirely perfect yet, but it’s convincing enough right now. $18.2 million isn’t that much as far as government spending goes, but I can’t imagine that it’s all going to go toward mundane tasks like sentiment analysis and data summarization. And if it actually does then sooner or later more insidious uses will occur. But who will we be able to tell?
Related: IBM, “The rise of generative models”.