Whether it is “a reusable NLP pipeline for preprocessing and characterizing clinical narratives“, an exploration focused on “evaluation of generative artificial intelligence for polio prevention” – or any number of other health care-focused applications, immense and petite – there is a wide and diverse array of AI and automation applications across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
As required by two executive orders recently issued by two administrations, the Office of the Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer at HHS, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP), has compiled an updated list All HHS AI use cases.
“The 2024 Artificial Intelligence Use Case Inventory includes a range of additional information beyond simple use case summaries,” said Principal Deputy National Coordinator for Health IT Steven Posnack in blog entry Monday. “It includes information about data, IT infrastructure, internal management and much more.”
The list has grown significantly since 2023, when it included 163 different apply cases. This year’s inventory includes over 270 of them, an augment of 66%.
“It’s important to remember that use cases vary in size and are at different stages of development,” Posnack noted. “Of the 271 use cases, 59 are “Initiation,” 57 are “Acquisition and/or Development,” 35 are “Implementation and Evaluation,” 104 are “Operation and Maintenance,” and 16 are “Retirement.” “
A BIGGER TREND
ASTP’s Office of the Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer is responsible for conducting annual inventories of HHS AI apply case inventories, a requirement first initiated by President Trump Executive Order 13960“Promoting the use of trustworthy artificial intelligence in the federal government.”
This responsibility has been further strengthened by President Biden EO 14110 of October 2023, “Safe, Secure and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence” – which Trump said he would repeal during his second term.
Meanwhile, the Office of Management and Budget Note M-24-10“Improving Governance, Innovation and Risk Management of Agencies’ Use of Artificial Intelligence” sets out requirements for AI governance, innovation and risk management.
ON RECORDING
“With the publication of the 2024 AI Use Case List in our rearview mirror, we have already begun planning for 2025 inventory and improvements,” Posnack said of the updated list released this week. “We will also use this curated list to engage our sister agencies and perform additional ongoing responsibilities set forth in M-24-10, including working with them, where applicable and appropriate, to share their code, models and artificial intelligence data.”