The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is launching a new initiative focused on hiring 50 new artificial intelligence experts to help leverage AI technology across strategic areas of the department.
The new hiring campaign – announced at an event in Mountain View, Calif., on Feb. 6 – is focused on creating an “AI Corps” similar to groups created by the U.S. Digital Service. The new AI hires will work on projects including helping to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse, delivering immigration services, securing travel, and fortifying critical infrastructure.
“As artificial intelligence becomes more powerful and more accessible than ever before, government needs the support and expertise of our country’s foremost AI experts to help ensure our continued ability to harness this technology responsibly, safeguard against its malicious use, and advance our critical homeland security mission,” said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas.
The DHS AI Corps experts will function as part of the DHS Office of the Chief Information Officer. They will provide expertise in AI and machine learning (ML) technology that will provide more efficient work conducted at the department.
“We are recruiting faster than ever because the need is urgent. More Americans interact with DHS every day than any other federal agency, so the better and faster we can deploy responsible AI, the more it can positively impact the American people,” said DHS CIO and Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer Eric Hysen.
“We are prioritizing recruiting talent who are technologically proficient and eager to leverage recent innovations in AI to transform the way people interact with the government,” added Hysen.
The hiring initiative stems from the White House executive order issued last year that focuses on promoting and adopting safe AI technology to help advance Federal agency mission goals.
“Our new AI Corps initiative will make it easier to bring these talented, experienced, creative men and women into public service quickly,” stated Mayorkas.
