The US government’s use of AI is increasing rapidly. And the lack of transparency is worrying | Nathan E. Sanders and Bruce Schneider

OOn April 14, the Trump administration tacitly acknowledged the widespread use of AI to automate government processes. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has announced an incredible 3,611 active or planned use cases for AI across the federal government. The list is up 70% from the list released in the last year of the Biden administration and contains many disturbing-looking plans to hand sensitive government functions to AI.

As many readers browse through this list, they may find many reasons for alarm. This is a large-scale transfer of decision-making from humans to machines on issues of individual freedom, public health and well-being, nuclear reactor safety, and more.

Consider these examples. The Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Children and Families hired the “world’s scariest AI company,” Palantir – notorious for its work on behalf of the military, CIA and ICE – to scan all grant applications to flag those that don’t…