Artificial intelligence is rapidly spreading as its capabilities mature and organizations find innovative uses for it. It’s important to understand that AI comes in different forms, and carries with some unique risks. While those risks are manageable, agencies must be aware and ready to mitigate them. 

Moreover, AI isn’t a solution for everything. Success requires choosing use cases that are amenable to AI assistance—and knowing which ones are not. 

In this lively and information discussion, former federal CTO Pete Tseronis and CGI Director Josh Sonnier, Ph.D., unpack the nuances of AI and its use cases.

You can also watch this episode on YouTube.

 Chapters

Moving the needle on agency risk aversion: 3:20

Choosing AI tools and minimizing risk: 6:34

Ensuring accuracy in generative AI: 9:12

Choosing use cases for AI: 14:05

Building AI strategy: Notes for agency leaders: 19:38

How to prepare for AI: 23:55

Challenges: AI skills, data quality, resistance to change: 27:10

Integrating AI into business processes: 28:50

Resources

Making AI work for the American people

OMB Guidance: Advancing Governance, Innovation, and Risk Management for Agency Use of Artificial Intelligence

Summary: FACT SHEET: Vice President Harris Announces OMB Policy to Advance Governance, Innovation, and Risk Management in Federal Agencies’ Use of Artificial Intelligence | The White House

Sample federal AI use cases

Federal AI Use Case Inventories - AI.gov

NIST Standards (July 2024)

Executive Order 14110 on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence (fact sheet)
 

Implementing new technology projects can be a high-risk endeavor. Agile methodology can mitigate much of the risk, enabling low-impact segments with the ability to roll back or alter course quickly. CGI Federal Agile experts Teri Musick and Heath Rasnake talked with host Pete Tseronis about how we can help federal agencies chose the best Agile frameworks and tools for their unique needs, and get things up and running. 

Our Agile Center of Excellence and our Agile Catalyst™ framework provide our expert consultants with the resources they need to guide agencies through every step of the process.

Episode chapters and timestamps

01:54 Ushering in the era of hyper-interaction with the government--and just what that means
 6:13 Effective communications between the government and its customers
 10:47 A success story: The Federal Acquisition Service Catalog Platform
 16:04 Looking to the future at NASA
 18:34 Learning from the private sector
 21:45 Taking the lead to create change
 26:35 Parting shots

Have feedback or want to contact a CGI expert? You can email us at [email protected].

GAO-24-105506 GAO Agile assessment guidance

Producer: Michael Hardy
Engineer: Lexie Floor
Assistant Engineer: Donovan Samuel

Want to watch instead of listen? Watch the video on YouTube - https://youtu.be/61PW8QBvxjE

Learn more about us at www.cgifederal.com

The future comes fast. 2030, a year that would have seemed impossibly futuristic not so long ago, is just six years away. 

The pace of change is fast and accelerating. As technology advances, users of government services want faster, more seamless transactions. How will federal agencies harness the power of artificial intelligence, connected devices and other emerging technologies to transform government-to-constituent interactions? 

In this episode of CGI Voices, federal government veteran Mary Davie—a former official at NASA and the General Services Administration—and Stefan Becker, CGI Federal Senior Vice President,  sit down with former federal CTO Pete Tseronis to explore the possible….and what’s being done today to position us for the future. 

Episode highlights: 

Customer experience improves trust in the government

Federal agencies face unique challenges in delivering the hyper-personalized interaction experiences that their constituents want. Stefan and Mary talk with Pete about the imperative for digital transformation and the application of emerging technologies to improve CX, making it easier to interact with the government. 

Industry and other agencies want exemplary #CX, too  

Stefan and Mary share examples of where the government is transforming #CX to improve government operations. GSA, for example, is making it easier for industry to do business with the government and for government buyers to procure the goods and services their agencies need through initiatives such as Multiple Award Schedule consolidation and Federal Acquisition Service Catalog Platform modernization,

A new age of public-private partnerships 

Transforming government for 2030 and beyond also demands attention to business processes and models. NASA’s increased investment in public-private partnerships stands out, as increased reliance on commercial innovation has advanced the mission. Increasingly, agency leaders are more forward-thinking about using commercial best practices and new technologies to share information and collaborate across organizational and agency boundaries.

Episode chapters and timestamps

01:54 Ushering in the era of hyper-interaction with the government--and just what that means
 6:13 Effective communications between the government and its customers
 10:47 A success story: The Federal Acquisition Service Catalog Platform
 16:04 Looking to the future at NASA
 18:34 Learning from the private sector
 21:45 Taking the lead to create change
 26:35 Parting shots

Have feedback or want to contact a CGI expert? You can email us at [email protected]. 

OMB Memorandum 23-22: Delivering a Digital-First Public Experience


Executive Order 14058: Transforming Federal Customer Experience and Service Delivery To Rebuild Trust in Government

CGI selected to develop the Common Catalog Platform for the U.S. General Services Administration


Producer: Michael Hardy
Engineer: Lexie Floor
Assistant Engineer: Donovan Samuel

Want to watch instead of listen? Listen to the podcast on Youtube.

Learn more about us at www.cgifederal.com

Every new year brings new priorities to federal agencies, technological advances to assess and incorporate and changing expectations among lawmakers, regulators and the public. As the holiday season fades and we get back to work with a refreshed energy, CGI Federal President Stephanie Mango and Senior Vice President, Strategic Operations Gregg Mossburg join former federal CTO Pete Tseronis to look at the year ahead—for CGI and for our federal customers. 

Episode highlights: 

Centering data

Data is the foundation for almost every business decision, in government and industry alike. Stephanie and Gregg talk with Pete about the never-ending accumulation of data and how agencies can best manage and utilize it.

Modernization < Transformation

Systems modernization is an ongoing project, but digital transformation is a more complex proposition. Rethinking and digitizing business processes leads to greater efficiencies and better public service. 

Artificial intelligence

AI seems to have suddenly matured to a point where new use cases are always emerging. Once considered risk-averse, federal agencies are showing a new willingness to experiment with emerging technologies.

Episode Chapters/timestamps
0:00 Intro
7:42 Creating a consultative culture
12:38 Centering data
14:45 Modernization < Transformation
16:48 Government looks for the wider view
20:02 Storytelling skills
24:10 Data and AI
32:19 Government/industry dialogue
44:03 Parting shots

Have feedback or want to contact a CGI expert? You can email us at [email protected].

Producer: Michael Hardy
Engineer: Lexie Floor
Assistant Engineer: Donovan Samuel

Want to watch instead of listening? Find this podcast on our YouTube channel.

Learn more about us at www.cgifederal.com

It's hard to believe 2023 is at an end. CGI Voices debuted in July and published nine episodes featuring CGI Federal experts providing insight and guidance on various topics, including the rise of AI, successful transformation, sustainability, securing firmware and market trends based on our own Voice of Our Clients survey. 

In this final episode of 2023, former federal CTO Pete Tseronis looks back on these episodes and shares some key moments. Enjoy this retrospective while we prepare more great new content for you in January and beyond. 

Featured in this episode from CGI: 

Vice-President, Business Engineering Bob Barr, a former Internal Revenue Service Assistant Commissioner.

Director Sandy Bushue, a former Deputy Administrator and Acting Administrator, Federal Transit Administration.

Director David Crawford, a lead cyber architect in the National Security and Justice business unit at CGI Federal. 

Director Mark Flugge, CGI Federal’s Climate Change and Sustainability Lead. 

Vice-President Victor Foulk leads CGI Federal’s emerging technologies practice. 

Director Ratima Kataria, a former Deputy CIO at the Department of Health and Human Services’ Operating Division - Health Resources and Services Administration.

Vice-President Chris Lavergne, cybersecurity expert. 

Director Molly O’Neill supports strategy, capture and thought leadership on key CGI Federal opportunities. She is a former assistant administrator for the Office of Environmental Information and Chief Information Officer at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Vice-President Brad Schoffstall drives innovative solutions on a range of enterprise-wide IT initiatives in CGI Federal's Health and Social Services business unit.

Director Donna Seymour supports data governance and stewardship, data analytics and modeling and strategic project management for CGI Federal at a large federal agency. She spent 42 years in the federal government.

Have feedback or want to contact a CGI expert? You can email us at [email protected]. 

Producer: Michael Hardy
Engineer: Lexie Floor
Assistant Engineer: Donovan Samuel

Want to watch instead of listening? Find this podcast on our YouTube channel.

Learn more about us at www.cgifederal.com

In the second part of their conversation with host Pete Tseronis, CGI’s Bob Barr and Sandy Bushue reflect on their time in federal agencies and their interactions with contractors. Communication between government and industry can be tricky, and it’s important to understand what everyone in the equation needs to get out of the partnership. Bob and Sandy offer insight to improve the level of conversation. 

Collaboration and partnership—between industry and government customers, and between large contractors and small businesses or other industry partners—often makes the difference between a success and a failure. Bob and Sandy have experienced the dynamics from all sides and share their wisdom borne of that experience in this episode.

Timestamps/Chapters
0:00 – Introductions
0:46 – How industry should talk to government
3:52 – Creating collaborative mechanisms for modernization
7:08 – From “taxpayers” to “customers” at the IRS
11:40 – Facilitating government/industry dialogue
15:18 – Solving, not selling
17:52 – Rapidly changing agencies
22:46 – Reinvention, not just modernization

Have feedback or want to contact a CGI expert? You can email us at [email protected].

Producer: Michael Hardy
Engineer: Lexie Floor
Assistant Engineer: Donovan Samuel

Want to watch instead of listening? Find this podcast on our YouTube channel.

Learn more about us at www.cgifederal.com

Firmware is ubiquitous in any IT environment. The code—usually hardwired onto a microchip—bridges the hardware and software in any computer, including Internet of Things devices and other surprising places. Because it is hidden and because it can be difficult to update, many IT organizations pay little attention to developing cybersecurity strategies. 

That omission can be a costly mistake. CGI Vice President Chris Lavergne and Director Dave Crawford, both cybersecurity experts, join CGI Voices host Pete Tseronis on this podcast episode to explain the current state of firmware and how agencies can better account for it in their planning.

Timestamps/Chapters
00:05:34 - Chapter: Grappling with an increasing target-rich environment--the IoT, firmware and smart technologies
00:09:28 - Chapter: What is firmware, anyway? 
00:17:38 - Chapter: Identifying resources and scoping out the challenge
00:31:14 - Chapter: Back to basics
00:34:47 - Chapter: The unique squishiness of the IoT
00:37:51 - Chapter: Asset visibility and vulnerability detection
00:43:27 - Chapter: Parting shots

Have feedback or want to contact a CGI expert? You can email us at [email protected]. 

Related links
 
How CDM concepts can aid a zero trust transition, by David Crawford and Chris Lavergne
Reduce the noise to strengthen agency cybersecurity defenses, by John Nemoto and Chris Lavergne
CGI Federal Cybersecurity services
Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity
Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog | CISA
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures- CVE - CVE (mitre.org)
Common Platform Enumeration- NVD - CPE (nist.gov)
CISA BOD 23-01: Improving Asset Visibility and Vulnerability Detection on Federal Networks

Producer: Michael Hardy
Engineer: Lexie Floor
Assistant Engineer: Donovan Samuel

Want to watch instead of listening? Find this podcast on our YouTube channel.

Learn more about us at www.cgifederal.com

CGI’s annual Voice of Our Clients is a comprehensive study of trends, technology priorities and future projections based on hundreds of face-to-face interviews between CGI leaders and our broad customer base globally. This includes the U.S. federal government and reveals federal agency leaders' current ambitions and worries. 

Molly O’Neill, a Director at CGI Federal, spent some time with host Pete Tseronis in this episode of the CGI Voices podcast. In this wide-ranging conversation, she explains what this year’s VOC revealed. One key finding: Agencies are working to integrate digital strategies programmatically rather than enterprise-wide. What does that mean for the future? 

Other key findings: 

• Cybersecurity programs are maturing at many agencies—but the work isn’t complete
• Legacy systems are increasingly challenging, making modernization a top priority
•  Many agencies are exploring the possibilities of AI

Episode chapters/timestamps
2:28  "You have two years to get stuff done"
5:00:  What is the Voice of Our Clients?
10:10 Digital strategies more common at the programmatic level
15:20  Agencies grow more confident in their cyber programs
20:13: Challenging legacy systems makes modernization a priority
23:56: Charting the rise in automation and AI in federal agencies
28:50: Looking ahead

Have feedback or want to contact a CGI expert? You can email us at [email protected]. 

Producer: Michael Hardy
Engineer: Lexie Floor
Assistant Engineer: Donovan Samuel

Want to watch instead of listening? Find this podcast on our YouTube channel.

Learn more about us at www.cgifederal.com

Related links

Federal highlights from the 2023 CGI Voice of Our Clients: CGI Voice of Our Clients | CGI United States

Explore the 2023 CGI Voice of Our Clients findings: CGI Voice of Our Clients | CGI.com

More insight from Molly O’Neill: Using enterprise governance to infuse innovation.

While climate change may be everyone’s problem, governments have a unique role as part of the solution. In this episode of CGI Voices, CGI Sustainability and Climate Change Lead,  Dr.  Mark Flugge talks to host Pete Tseronis about recent policy and legislative advances that could help turn the tide.

Have feedback or want to contact a CGI expert? You can email us at [email protected]. 

Producer: Michael Hardy
Engineer: Lexie Floor
Assistant Engineer: Donovan Samuel

Want to watch instead of listening? Find this podcast on our YouTube channel.

Learn more about us at www.cgifederal.com

Useful Links

Executive Order 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad

Executive Order 14057: Catalyzing Clean Energy and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability

Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

CHIPS.gov

Office of the Federal Chief Sustainability Officer

As host Pete Tseronis says in this episode, “modernization” is a loosely-used term. As true as that is, however, modernization remains a necessity and a high priority for federal agencies. Legacy systems still run major, mission-critical functions even as they age and the number of people in the workforce able to program and maintain them dwindles. 

Federal agency veterans Bob Barr (former Assistant Commissioner, IRS) and Sandy Bushue (former Deputy Administrator and Acting Administrator, Federal Transit Administration), draw on their own experiences to explain why modernization is such a challenge and how agency leaders can approach it successfully.

Have feedback or want to contact a CGI expert? You can email us at [email protected].

Producer: Michael Hardy
Engineer: Lexie Floor
Assistant Engineer: Donovan Samuel

Want to watch instead of listening? Find this podcast on our Youtube channel.

Learn more about us at www.cgifederal.com

Useful resources

Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

The Critical Infrastructure Sectors

10 steps to tax system modernization