AI for National Competitiveness: A Government Perspective on Adopting AI to Better Serve Its Citizens

May 17

By Alina Aeby, PhD

Silicon Valley Proptech Association, Founder/President

The AI EXPO For National Competitiveness 2024 brought together big companies’ names in the AI innovation segment, well-known US government contractor companies, academia, NGO’s and different government sectors, politicians and regulators. defense, security, biotech and logistics.

This was the first AI government dedicated event organized by Special Competitive Studies Projects (SCSP), a non-partisan and non-profit project based in Washington, D.C., the expo built on the success of the past 2022 and 2023 SCSP’s “Global Emerging Technologies Summits’.

The event was designed to serve as a forum for industry, government, and academic research entities to exhibit some of the latest technological innovations— in AI, biotech, energy, networks, manufacturing, microelectronics, manufacturing, augmented reality, and beyond — and discuss their implications for U.S. and allied competitiveness. Throughout two full days of events, the participants could enjoy a free event and listen to panels of technologists and politicians and regulators alike and test AI programs.

While most US and global citizens already experienced technologies such as biometric identification, cybersecurity measures, tried a prompt or two on ChatGPT, the extend of AI adoption at governmental level and how citizens will be impacted in their daily life could be vast.

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to advance, its transformative impact on national competitiveness becomes increasingly evident. For the United States, AI offers significant potential to enhance defense capabilities, cybersecurity, government contracting, citizen protection, sustainability , and budget management. By leveraging AI in these critical areas, the US can not only bolster its national security but also improve governmental efficiency and service delivery.

There are quite a few uses of AI in different government functions:

Enhancing Defense Capabilities

AI is set to revolutionize military operations and national defense by providing advanced tools for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). AI-powered systems can process and analyze vast amounts of data from various sources, offering real-time insights and predictive analytics that improve decision-making.

1. Autonomous Systems: AI enables the development of autonomous drones and robotic systems that can conduct surveillance, engage in combat, and perform reconnaissance missions with minimal human intervention. These systems enhance operational efficiency and reduce the risk to human soldiers.

2. Predictive Maintenance: AI can predict equipment failures and optimize maintenance schedules, ensuring that military assets are always in optimal condition and ready for deployment.

3. Cyber Defense: In an era where cyber warfare is a growing threat, AI-driven cybersecurity measures can detect and respond to cyber threats more quickly and effectively than traditional methods. AI systems can analyze network traffic, identify anomalies, and automatically implement countermeasures to protect critical infrastructure.

Strengthening Cybersecurity

AI’s role in cybersecurity is crucial for national competitiveness, as cyber threats continue to evolve in sophistication and scale. AI can enhance the government’s ability to protect sensitive data and critical infrastructure.

1. Threat Detection and Response: AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data to detect unusual patterns and potential security breaches. By identifying threats in real-time, AI allows for rapid response and mitigation.

2. Predictive Analytics: AI can predict potential cyber-attacks by analyzing historical data and identifying trends. This proactive approach enables the government to strengthen its defenses before an attack occurs.

3. Automated Security Measures: AI can automate routine security tasks such as patch management and vulnerability scanning, freeing up human resources for more complex and strategic tasks.

Optimizing Government Contracting

AI can significantly improve the efficiency and transparency of government contracting, which is essential for national competitiveness and economic growth.

1. Automated Public Procurement Processes: AI can streamline procurement by automating tasks such as bid evaluation, contract management, and compliance checks. This reduces administrative burdens and accelerates the contracting process.

2. Data-Driven Decision Making: AI can analyze historical contract data to identify best practices, predict future procurement needs, and optimize spending. This ensures that government resources are allocated more effectively.

3. Transparency and Accountability: AI can enhance transparency by providing real-time insights into the contracting process. This helps prevent fraud and corruption and promotes fair competition among contractors.

Protecting Citizens

AI can enhance public safety and citizen protection by improving emergency response, healthcare, and law enforcement.

1. Emergency Response: AI can predict natural disasters, analyze their potential impact, and optimize emergency response plans. This ensures that resources are deployed effectively, and lives are saved.

2. Healthcare: AI can improve healthcare delivery by analyzing patient data to predict outbreaks, optimize treatment plans, and enhance disease management. This leads to better health outcomes and reduces healthcare costs.

3. Law Enforcement: AI can assist law enforcement agencies by analyzing crime data to identify patterns and predict criminal activity. This enables proactive policing and enhances public safety.

Improving Budget Management Efficiency

Effective budget management is crucial for national competitiveness, and AI can significantly enhance the efficiency and accuracy of budget planning and execution.

1. Predictive Budgeting: AI can analyze historical spending data and economic trends to predict future budget needs. This helps government agencies plan more effectively and allocate resources efficiently.

2. Fraud Detection: AI can detect fraudulent activities by analyzing financial transactions and identifying anomalies. This helps prevent waste and ensures that taxpayer money is used appropriately.

3. Resource Optimization: AI can optimize resource allocation by identifying inefficiencies and suggesting cost-saving measures. This ensures that government budgets are used effectively and deliver maximum value to citizens.

As AI continues to evolve, its potential to enhance national competitiveness across defense, cybersecurity, government contracting, citizen protection, and budget management becomes increasingly apparent. By embracing AI, the United States can strengthen its national security, improve governmental efficiency, and deliver better services to its citizens.

However, it is essential to address ethical, legal, and regulatory challenges to ensure that AI is used responsibly and for the greater good. By doing so, the US can harness the transformative power of AI to secure its future and maintain its position as a global leader.

Since the U.S.A has extensive commercial and diplomatic relations with other nations, who have their own competitive advantage in certain economic sectors, the world spread of AI technologies brings up the idea of global cooperation in developing fair and inclusive AI technology practices for the common good of humanity, reducing the socio-economic inequality gap and solving problems arising in conflict areas.

AI opens a new chapter for humanity and a chance for governments to collaboratively address its long time challenges in a fair, equitable, sustainable and efficient manner.

AI EXPO For National Competitiveness 2024