NCIS and FBI officials explore AI’s potential in administrative tasks, citing successful use in HR and cybersecurity despite challenges. They’re focused on enhancing efficiency rather than full automation, all while navigating workforce and funding pressures.
In a recent discussion at an AFCEA Bethesda event in Washington, D.C., officials from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the FBI shared their optimistic outlook on the applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in administrative tasks. While neither agency is ready to fully implement AI in law enforcement data, they are actively exploring its utility in areas like HR and cybersecurity. Gregory Scovel, NCIS’s deputy director of operations, emphasized the focus is on enhancing back office functions instead of launching full-scale AI systems into sensitive law enforcement operations.
Scovel highlighted two main areas where NCIS is having early success with AI: human resources and cybersecurity vendor assessments. The agency is leveraging AI to streamline HR processes, enabling them to onboard new personnel quicker than any other Department of Defense (DOD) organization. “I’m happy to announce, NCIS can bring people on faster than anybody else in DOD right now,” Scovel commented regarding the efficiency achieved due to AI improvements.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Scovel reminisced about the initial attempts to implement AI, where NCIS developed an internal version of ChatGPT to assist in HR tasks. Unfortunately, the deployment fell flat, leading to more difficulties than it solved. “It didn’t work at all,” he admitted, noting that frustration pushed them to seek out external solutions and learn from earlier missteps by establishing a tech evaluation group.
In the realm of supply chain risks, Scovel pointed out that using AI has allowed analysts to identify anomalies in vendor cybersecurity postures. This helps NCIS to intervene early and ensure that the Navy’s hefty investments in research—almost $80 billion last year—are protected. He explained how, when a warfighter activates their equipment, it must perform flawlessly, reinforcing the importance of AI in safeguarding these critical processes.
On the FBI’s side, Kevin Jones, who leads the agency’s IT Infrastructure Division, echoed similar sentiments. He discussed an AI initiative aimed at reducing the flood of false positive alerts that cybersecurity workers tackle on a daily basis. This venture aimed to streamline SOC analysis by integrating disparate data sets, making the process less manual. “There’s a lot of opportunities for just efficiency in the triage,” he said, underscoring a broader strategic approach to AI.
Jones mentioned that, while their efforts showed promise in tests, issues still loom larger than life, such as workforce reductions and funding constraints hampering full deployment. “We’ve run into some issues with personnel cuts and funding, and so those are real challenges,” he stated, alluding to the hurdles faced amid the agency’s push to innovate.
This conversation about AI comes at a crucial time, as the Trump administration prods agencies to maximize efficiency while managing workforce reductions and restructuring efforts. It appears that using AI for cumbersome business tasks can provide a foothold into larger applications without yet reaching for full automation. The insights shared by Scovel and Jones might be the starting point for transforming the way federal law enforcement agencies operate, albeit one cautious step at a time.
In summary, both NCIS and the FBI see significant potential in applying AI to enhance administrative processes rather than diving headfirst into law enforcement applications. With successful early endeavors like improving HR and assessing cybersecurity, the agencies are learning from prior setbacks to innovate more effectively. However, challenges remain, particularly regarding personnel and funding as pressures mount for efficiency within the federal workforce. These explorations might lead the way for smarter, more responsive operations in the future.
Original Source: fedscoop.com
