DHS S&T releases strategic plan for AI, machine learning

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) released its Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning (AI/ML) Strategic Plan on Friday.

The proposed plan will incorporate the technological advancements in AI/ML to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the DHS operational components and the broader Homeland Security enterprise, the agency said.

“It is an exciting milestone for S&T to release our AI/ML Strategic Plan,” said Kathryn Coulter Mitchell, Senior Official Performing the Duties of Under Secretary for Science and Technology. “This actionable plan lays out how S&T will build and apply cutting-edge expertise to help the Department harness the opportunities of AI/ML technologies while mitigating the associated risks.”

S&T’s strategic goals are to drive the next-generation AI/ML technologies for cross-cutting homeland security capabilities while facilitating the use of proven AI/ML capabilities in homeland security missions and building an interdisciplinary AI/ML-trained workforce. The Strategic Plan will identify research the agency needs to conduct to understand the opportunities, as well as the risks, that accompany the changing AI/ML landscape, the agency said.

“Artificial Intelligence is a revolutionary capability that presents substantial opportunities for DHS to more efficiently and effectively accomplish our mission to secure the homeland. Effective implementation will also require significant expertise, coordinated research and development, and targeted investments,” Mitchell said. “As we grow S&T’s proficiencies in artificial intelligence and machine learning, we ensure S&T continues supporting the Department’s vision to enhance its capability to safeguard the American people, our homeland, and our values through the responsible integration of artificial intelligence into the Department’s activities.”