Federal AI Innovations Expo: Racing Toward the Future of AI in Government

“High-speed car race” is probably not the first image that comes to mind if you’re thinking about how government has traditionally implemented new technology. Despite a reputation for being cautious, however, government agencies are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) — and there is no finish line in sight. Embracing both the fun of a racetrack experience and the principles of AI and ML, the Acuity/AWS Federal AI Innovations Expo brought together industry leaders, government officials, and technology enthusiasts to explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in the public sector.

The Federal AI Innovations Expo was a one-day event at the AWS headquarters in Herndon, Virginia on September 13. The event featured insightful sessions and demonstrations highlighting the latest advancements in AI and their application to government operations. It also gave attendees the chance to get hands-on experience with AI and ML through the AWS DeepRacer program.

The day kicked off with a keynote address by David Larrimore, Chief Technology Officer at Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Larrimore emphasized the strategic role of AI in modernizing IT systems and improving service delivery within government, providing examples from across DHS. He also discussed the ways that government must define and enforce the responsible use of AI to safeguard security and privacy of citizens.

Other sessions gave attendees a deeper look into more technical AI topics. Acuity experts Jesse Adams, Acuity Director of Innovation & Engineering, and Gianni Vazzana, Acuity Senior Technical Manager, presented a demonstration of Amplo, a GenAI chatbot prototype used to quickly create new applications. Later in the day, Data Scientist Jacob Scanlon discussed AI innovations for federal financial operations, talking through how agencies can use Dataiku and AWS solutions to enhance services and combat fraud.

Acuity partner AWS also contributed to the learning track. “From A to Generative AI with DeepRacer,” by AWS Solutions Architect Parth Desai, delved into the layers of AI, machine learning (ML), and deep learning (DL). Naveen Bathula, AWS Solutions Architect, wrapped up the day by presenting “Unlocking DeepRacer Concepts.” He introduced the core principles of GenAI, including the use of foundation models, prompt engineering, and reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF).

Attendees were also able to experience the thrills of the AWS DeepRacer program. Prior to the Expo, participants had used ML principles to train and test reinforcement learning models on a 3D racing simulator. The models were downloaded to physical autonomous cars to race live around a real racetrack at the event. Teams had three minutes to complete as many laps as possible, hoping their models could handle the speed and the turns around the track. AWS DeepRacer league is an easy, hands-on way to practice ML principles for experienced developers and rookies alike, and the live races thrilled the spectators throughout the day.

Overall, the Acuity/AWS Federal AI Innovations Expo was a resounding success, showcasing the potential of AI to revolutionize public sector operations, improve service delivery, and enhance customer experience. The keynote demonstrated the strategic role of AI in modernizing government IT systems, while the technical presentations showed both the wide range of use cases for AI and ML as well as giving a high-level overview of how the technology works. Attendees came away more familiar with the ideas and the potential of these new tools.

It is increasingly important for government and industry employees to be familiar with AI solutions and how they are affecting the future of how government business gets done. As technology consultants, Acuity is proud to serve as an experienced “pit crew” to help government agencies use AI to speed their operations for mission success. It was our pleasure to provide a venue for government and industry to explore this exciting technology together.

See Amplo, the Acuity GenAI chatbot, in action: GenAI Chatbot Demo.