Catherine Sharkey, a law professor, explains how artificial intelligence is being leveraged to address the challenging task of overseeing our governmental entities.
On October 30, 2023, President Biden issued a comprehensive executive order concerning artificial intelligence (AI), focusing heavily on safety, risk mitigation, and rigorous testing of AI systems. While the order prioritizes these aspects, its advocacy for AI technology within the government is not as widely recognized.
Sharkey, a professor specializing in governmental law and policy at New York University, has dedicated years to researching this topic. With expertise in operational protocols, Sharkey has extensively explored the utilization of AI by government bodies, particularly emphasizing the concept of “retrospective review” to reassess the efficacy of existing regulations. This process entails interagency communication at the Federal level to identify potential regulatory redundancies or inconsistencies. Furthermore, it involves soliciting public feedback on potential modifications, simplifications, expansions, or repeals of current legislation.
In a statement presented to the Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS) in May, Sharkey assessed the historical, current, and prospective applications of AI within government agencies. Drawing from thorough research and interviews with various federal employees and AI experts invested in governmental applications, Sharkey’s findings laid the groundwork for ACUS’ key recommendation titled “Utilizing Computational Tools for Retrospective Review of Agency Regulations,” released prior to the aforementioned study. Limited information existed regarding the use of algorithms by agencies to facilitate retrospective reviews.
