LegiStorm

Summary:
What GAO Found

Federal agencies have taken actions to implement selected artificial intelligence (AI) management and talent requirements that were due by the end of March 2024. Specifically, all 13 of the selected AI management and talent requirements contained in the relevant Executive Order were fully implemented (see table).

Extent to Which Agencies Implemented Selected Artificial Intelligence (AI) Management and Talent Requirements from Executive Order (EO) 14110, as of June 2024


Responsible agency(ies)


GAO assessment of selected requirements


Executive Office of the President


Organize the AI and Technology Talent Task Force
Establish the White House AI Council


Office of Management and Budget (OMB)


Convene the interagency Chief AI Officer council
Issue AI guidance to agencies
Issue instructions on agencies' AI use cases


Office of Science and Technology Policy and OMB


Identify priority mission areas for increasing AI talent, establish highest-priority types of talent, and identify pathways for an accelerated hiring process


General Services Administration (GSA)


Publish a Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program framework
The Technology Modernization Board should consider prioritizing AI projects


Office of Personnel Management (OPM)


Review hiring and workplace flexibilities
Consider excepted service appointments
Coordinate AI hiring action across agencies
Issue guidance on AI-related pay


OMB/ U.S. Digital Service, OPM, GSA/ U.S. Digital Corps and Presidential Innovation Fellows


Establish initial plans for recruiting AI talent

Legend: ● Fully implemented = agency evidence fully satisfied the requirement.

Source: GAO analysis of agency efforts to implement key AI requirements. | GAO24107332

As required by the order, the Executive Office of the President (EOP) organized the AI and Technology Talent Task Force and established the White House AI Council. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has convened and chaired the Chief AI Officer council, issued AI guidance and use case instructions to agencies, and established initial plans for AI talent recruitment. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has reviewed hiring and workplace flexibility, considered excepted service appointments, coordinated AI hiring action across federal agencies, and issued related pay guidance. In addition, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and OMB have identified priority mission areas for increasing AI talent, established the types of talent that are the highest priority to recruit and develop, and identified accelerated hiring pathways.

Regarding AI and emerging technologies, the General Services Administration (GSA) finalized and issued its framework on June 27, 2024. The framework is to enable consistent prioritization of the most critical emerging technologies in a secure cloud environment. As discussed in this report, GSA's initial priority list has three generative AI capabilities: chat interfaces, code-generation and debugging tools, and prompt-based image generators.

Why GAO Did This Study

AI is rapidly changing the world and has significant potential to transform society and people's lives. According to the Administration, agencies are already using AI operationally in various areas. Further, agencies have requested $1.9 billion for research and development investment in AI for fiscal year 2024. Given the rapid growth in capabilities and widespread adoption of AI, the federal government must responsibly manage its use.

To help guide a coordinated, government-wide approach to the development and safe and responsible use of AI, the President issued an Executive Order in October 2023. Among other things, the order requires agencies to provide guidance for AI management and to increase AI talent in the government.

GAO's objective was to evaluate the extent to which agencies have implemented selected AI management and talent requirements from Executive Order 14110. GAO selected 13 requirements from the order that (1) were due by the end of March 2024, (2) had government-wide implications for AI management and talent, and (3) had clear deliverables. For these 13 requirements, GAO assessed agency documentation and interviewed relevant officials.

GAO provided a draft of this report to EOP, OMB, OPM, OSTP, and GSA for review. OMB and OSTP provided technical comments, which we incorporated as appropriate. EOP, OPM, and GSA did not have any comments on the report.

For more information, contact Kevin Walsh at (202) 512-6151 or walshk@gao.gov.