The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has a plan to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) in testing three pilot projects. Among them are for identifying fentanyl and addressing child sexual exploitation. Testing will be conducted in collaboration with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas made the announcement Monday. “The unprecedented speed and potential of AI’s development and adoption presents both enormous opportunities to advance our mission and risks we must mitigate” said the secretary.
“The use of AI to interdict narcotics and to combat child sex trafficking has merit, but it should used as a tool to augment efforts to secure our borders and prevent the cartels from bringing drugs into the country and exploiting children, said Ira Mehlman, media director at The Federation for American Immigration Reform. “It is not a substitute for real border enforcement,” he added.
The Foreign Desk reports:
The plan outlines that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must guarantee that its implementation of AI prioritizes the full respect of privacy and civil rights. It emphasizes thorough testing to prevent bias, privacy violations, and other potential risks. Additionally, the roadmap encourages the agency to advance national AI safety and security efforts, such as safeguarding American cyber networks and critical infrastructure…
…The plan outlines that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will lead in forming robust partnerships with the private sector, local governments, and research institutions. The AI strategy is an extension of DHS’s recent announcement to recruit 50 experts in AI technology. The department plans to employ AI models such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT to aid in implementing the new tests. Additionally, it has forged partnerships with Anthropic, Meta, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon as it initiates the pilot programs.
FEMA’s plans include using AI to assist communities in “strategizing and crafting mitigation plans to bolster resilience and reduce potential risks. Meanwhile, USCIS intends to employ AI to enhance the training of immigration officers.”
