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Navigating the AI Wave: Inside GSA’s Strategy for Government Technology
The General Services Administration (GSA) is taking a deliberate, two-pronged approach to integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into the federal government. This strategy involves simultaneously adopting AI internally and laying the groundwork for other agencies to procure and utilize this transformative technology.
According to GSA’s Associate Administrator for Government-wide Policy and Chief Acquisition Officer, Larry Allen, AI is already present in government and is poised for significant expansion. To harness this potential, GSA has developed its own AI chatbot called GSAi, designed to serve as a force multiplier for its workforce.
Within GSA, the Federal Acquisition Service and Public Building Service are actively using GSAi to provide employees with quicker access to regulatory information and to automate various research tasks. A practical application involves feeding prompts to GSAi to understand statutory requirements for government acquisition, allowing the tool to identify and list associated laws swiftly. This capability can significantly accelerate market research and assist in processes like rewriting acquisition regulations. GSA is also exploring how AI can be used to improve contract drafting, help create better statements of work, and support the evaluation of offers. Importantly, while AI will assist, human judgment will remain central to how GSA makes decisions regarding government spending.
Beyond its internal applications, GSA is focused on developing the mechanisms that will enable other government agencies to procure AI technology. Two procurement models are currently emerging: one is a subscription-based service, similar to the monthly fees associated with cloud computing, and the second involves token-based models that offer more specific, on-demand access to AI capabilities.
However, the relative newness of the AI market presents challenges for procurement officials, particularly when it comes to determining fair and reasonable pricing. Identifying price reasonableness is tricky because the market is still in its developmental phase across both the commercial and public sectors. Allen noted that as the market matures, this process will become more streamlined, but it is currently a challenge.
Looking ahead, there are seen to be parallels between the adoption of AI and the early days of technologies like cloud computing. Government agencies tend to be cautious, but successful implementations will drive wider acceptance. As early successes are shared, AI could gradually become the norm across government. It’s important to acknowledge that the government’s adoption path may differ from the commercial world, primarily due to the strict security requirements necessary to protect government systems. Despite these security considerations, there is believed to be a tremendous amount of upside potential for increased AI use within the government.
Tags: Government, AI, GSA, Artificial Intelligence, Acquisition, Procurement, Federal, Technology, GSAi, Regulations