AI 'n the House

AI ‘n the House ??: Your weekly #AI round-up of trending articles that could have HUD and housing impacts in the communities we serve:

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In this week’s edition of AI ’n the House, we explore a range of AI initiatives, from housing insights out of Australia to the US Senate’s new AI policy roadmap. We dive into responses to AI’s impact on the workforce and updates from federal agencies on their AI projects, before closing out with a discussion on recent meetings between the US and China on the safe advancement of AI technology.

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1.????? Housing Data Lab Gets $1 Million Funding to Solve Housing Crisis - The City Futures Research Centre at UNSW Sydney received a $1 million grant to establish the Housing Analytics Lab (HAL). The lab will use data-driven solutions to address the housing crisis, providing insights into housing supply, demand, and development activities. HAL aims to support evidence-based policy-making with advanced analytical tools and real-time datasets.

2.????? Senate Leaders Release AI Policy Roadmap - The Senate released a comprehensive AI policy roadmap addressing intellectual property, AI research funding, sector-specific regulations, and transparency. Key topics include publicity rights, disclosure requirements, increased AI research funding, national defense investments, AI in political ads, and privacy and legal liability. The roadmap is based on input from diverse stakeholders and aims to shape future AI legislation.

3.????? Government AI Funding Among Priorities in Senate Working Group Roadmap - A bipartisan Senate working group has outlined a roadmap focusing on AI policy areas that merit bipartisan consideration, including substantial federal research funding. The group emphasizes the need for $32 billion annually in non-defense AI innovation to maintain U.S. leadership in AI. The roadmap also calls for fully funding initiatives like the National AI Research Resource, highlighting the importance of boosting competitiveness in emerging technologies.

4.????? Advocates Warn Schumer’s AI Roadmap Doesn’t Go Far Enough - Critics argue that Schumer’s AI roadmap focuses too much on promoting innovation and industry, neglecting the real-world harms of AI systems. Civil rights and labor advocates emphasize the need for stronger preventive measures and regulations to address issues like bias, transparency, and climate impact.

5.????? Labor Department Releases Principles on AI and Workers with Pledges from Microsoft, Indeed - The Biden administration released principles to guide AI interaction with workers, emphasizing responsible data use, worker support, and transparency. These voluntary principles have been endorsed by companies like Microsoft and Indeed. The initiative aims to ensure AI technology enhances work quality and aligns with existing laws while inviting further commitments from other tech companies.

6.????? Using AI, Indiana Outlines Career Paths for Job Seekers - The Indiana Department of Workforce Development is using AI through a tool called Pivot to enhance job seekers' experiences. Pivot helps align individuals' skills with market demands and suggests career paths by analyzing vast data sets. This initiative marks a shift from generic job lists to personalized career recommendations, aiming to improve workforce development and the job matching process in Indiana.

7.????? With the Rise of AI, Workforce Planning is Critical. But Many Governments Don’t Do It. - Despite AI's transformative potential, many state and local governments lag in strategic workforce planning. Challenges include decentralized HR management, short-term political focuses, and inadequate resources. The disparity in planning capabilities and actual execution across different agencies adds to the complexity, highlighting a need for a more unified and long-term approach to harness AI's benefits effectively.

8.????? AI Skill You Must Learn to Stay Competitive in the Jobs Market - CNBC highlights the critical AI skills necessary for maintaining competitiveness in the evolving job market. The article emphasizes the importance of understanding and leveraging AI tools across various industries, suggesting that proficiency in AI technologies is becoming essential for career advancement and job security.

9.????? How the Biden Administration is Tackling Diversity in Federal AI Hiring - The Biden administration is prioritizing diversity in AI hiring within the federal workforce. Efforts include active recruiting, targeting diverse candidates, and promoting AI-enabling jobs. The goal is to build a workforce that reflects America's diversity and brings varied perspectives to AI development and regulation.

10.? New TMF Investments Boost Agency Projects in Generative AI, Digital Service Delivery, and Accessibility - The Technology Modernization Fund announced investments to enhance AI capabilities, security, and digital services at the Departments of State, Education, and Commerce. These funds will support AI-driven diplomacy, zero-trust architecture, student aid improvements, and weather information accessibility.

11.? NASA Has a New Chief AI Officer - NASA has appointed a new Chief AI Officer to oversee the integration of AI technologies into its operations and research. This position aims to harness AI's potential to enhance NASA's missions, including data analysis, simulations, and operational efficiencies across various space and ground-based projects.

12.? HHS to Fund AI, Behavioral Health IT Projects in FY 2024 - The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced funding for AI and behavioral health IT projects in fiscal year 2024. The initiative aims to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes through advanced technology. These projects will focus on enhancing data analytics, patient care, and overall system efficiency in the behavioral health sector.

13.? State Department Revolutionizes Records Management with AI - The State Department uses AI and machine learning to streamline declassification and FOIA processes, significantly reducing manual labor and improving efficiency. The department's AI initiatives have led to cost savings and enhanced document management, including automated declassification reviews and improved public access to information.

14.? US, China Meet to Discuss AI Risks - Officials from the U.S. and China are convening to address mutual concerns about AI risks. The discussions aim to establish collaborative efforts to manage AI's advancement safely, focusing on potential threats such as privacy issues, misinformation, and cyber threats associated with AI technologies.