AI Week in Review - 5/10/25

The Details

Federal

U.S. court system eyeing AI use cases for access to justice, cost savings
The U.S. federal judiciary is piloting AI tools like chatbots to expand access to justice and improve efficiency, leveraging its decentralized structure to safely test innovations while maintaining public trust.

‘AI boom’ will make up for IRS workforce cuts, Treasury secretary says
Despite deep IRS staffing and IT cuts, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claims AI will sustain tax collection efficiency—an assertion facing scrutiny amid fears of weakened oversight and data security concerns.

US federal workforce layoffs: Can AI agents help?
As federal agencies face budget cuts and layoffs, AI agents offer a path to maintain mission performance—if deployed thoughtfully—to automate workflows, enhance services, and reduce administrative burdens.

FDA Commissioner talks of shortening drug approval process, benefits of AI
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary announced the agency’s first AI-assisted drug review and outlined plans to expand its use, aiming to modernize the process and shorten drug approval timelines significantly.

SOCOM uses AI to speed up acquisitions
U.S. Special Operations Command is piloting AI tools to streamline acquisition workflows, aiming to reduce delays, increase accuracy, and accelerate delivery of capabilities while minimizing cognitive burdens on operators.

FDA names first-ever AI chief
The FDA has appointed Jeremy Walsh, a longtime Booz Allen technologist, as its first chief of artificial intelligence and IT to modernize systems amid staffing cuts and rising efficiency pressures.

U.S. to overhaul curbs on AI chip exports after backlash
The Trump administration will overhaul complex AI chip export restrictions after industry backlash, aiming to protect innovation while controlling adversary access through bilateral agreements.

Marine Corps releases AI implementation plan
The U.S. Marine Corps has released a detailed AI implementation plan focused on workforce development, tactical innovation, scalable deployment, and public-private partnerships to drive digital transformation by 2026.

CDAO’s future uncertain as slew of top leaders and tech staffers depart
The Pentagon’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office is facing major uncertainty amid a wave of senior staff departures and potential consolidation under the Trump administration’s government efficiency efforts.

Energy secretary: Government should ‘get out of the way’ to fuel AI race
Energy Secretary Chris Wright called AI the "Manhattan Project of our time" and urged the government to step aside so private industry can expand energy infrastructure—especially nuclear and coal—to meet surging AI demand.

Senators move to quash the use of Chinese AI system by federal contractors
A bipartisan Senate bill aims to ban federal contractors from using the Chinese AI model DeepSeek, citing national security risks of exposing sensitive data to the Chinese government.

US dominance in AI needs to occur at every layer, tech leaders say
Top tech leaders told the Senate that U.S. dominance in AI depends on controlling every layer of the technology stack—from chips to software—and urged supportive policies to secure global leadership.

State / Local

Utah partnered with a nonprofit to boost its AI governance
Utah’s yearlong partnership with the Aspen Institute produced an AI evaluation framework focused on fairness, transparency, and trust—guiding the state’s cautious, values-driven approach to responsible AI adoption.

Agentic AI at scale: Use cases, costs and ramifications
Agentic AI promises transformative potential for state and local governments, but leaders must carefully evaluate high-impact use cases, long-term costs, and governance structures before scaling this autonomous, task-executing technology.

An Arizona family used AI to re-create a road rage victim’s voice
In a groundbreaking moment, the family of Christopher Pelkey used AI to recreate his voice and deliver a victim impact statement during the sentencing of his killer in an Arizona road rage case.

New schools in NYC to Focus on AI
New York City’s new AI-focused middle school in Brooklyn will use artificial intelligence and virtual reality to personalize learning, support teachers, and engage students through immersive, ethical, and real-world education experiences.

Gov Healey advances MA AI leadership with AI Hub
Massachusetts announced a $31M AI infrastructure grant, startup accelerator partnership with IBM and Red Hat, and named Sabrina Mansur director of its AI Hub, aiming to cement state leadership in applied AI.

Hasenbeck's AI revenge porn bill signed into law
Oklahoma's new law criminalizes AI-generated revenge porn, making it a misdemeanor to share sexually explicit deepfakes without consent, marking a major step in digital privacy protection.

CA launches new chatbot that provides wildfire resources in 70 languages
California has launched “Ask CAL FIRE,” an AI chatbot offering wildfire resources and emergency information in 70 languages, expanding access to critical guidance ahead of peak fire season.

International

Argentina hopes to attract Big Tech with nuclear-powered AI data centers
Argentina aims to become a nuclear-powered AI hub with small modular reactors and a proposed “Nuclear City,” but experts question the project's technical feasibility, funding model, and execution timeline.

Italy and Hungary fail to appoint under AI Act
Italy and Hungary missed the EU's deadline to appoint fundamental rights authorities under the AI Act, raising concerns over compliance and consistent enforcement of AI-related protections across member states.

Governing in AI age – reimagining local gov
A new report by the Tony Blair Institute urges a bold transformation of UK local government using AI to restore capacity, improve services, and deliver £8 billion in annual productivity gains.

Singapore releases Consensus on Global AI Safety Priorities
The Singapore Consensus identifies shared global priorities for technical AI safety research, emphasizing international collaboration to build secure, trustworthy, and beneficial AI systems.

How Estonia is advancing AI in government, business and education
Estonia is leveraging AI to enhance digital governance, education, and entrepreneurship, positioning itself as a global tech leader despite limited capital and a small population.

UK government to hire chief AI officer
The UK government is set to appoint its first Chief AI Officer to lead public sector AI strategy, marking a major step in its broader digital transformation agenda.

Everything Else

The Wharton blueprint for effective AI chatbots
Wharton and Science Says offer a science-based chatbot blueprint to boost trust, performance, and user satisfaction by aligning bot design with task type, emotional context, and consumer psychology.

UnitedHealth now has 1,000 AI use cases, including in claims
UnitedHealth has deployed 1,000 AI tools across its business, including generative AI, amid legal and ethical scrutiny over claims processing and growing concerns about AI’s role in healthcare decision-making.

AI is coming for your job. Here are 10 strategies to stay relevant  
As AI automates more white-collar tasks, staying relevant means evolving faster—by mastering AI tools, strengthening uniquely human skills, and strategically reinventing your role before automation does it for you.

How to Thrive in an AI World
Psychological tools like mindfulness, emotional intelligence, curiosity, and adaptability can help individuals thrive amid AI-driven change, with success hinging on self-awareness, purpose, and the willingness to learn—and unlearn.

How to keep the AI revolution from dividing your workforce
Uneven AI adoption risks deepening workplace inequality, making employee training and support essential to ensuring that all staff can benefit from new technologies.

Google plunges as Apple hints at AI search for browsers
Google shares plummeted after Apple revealed it's exploring AI-powered search for Safari, threatening a multi-billion-dollar deal that makes Google the default search engine on Apple devices.

Be prepared, your new boss may be AI
As AI enters corporate leadership, early trials show it boosts efficiency but lacks the emotional intelligence needed to truly replace human managers or inspire teams.

OpenAI to acquire AI coding tool Windsurf for $3B
OpenAI plans to acquire AI coding assistant Windsurf for $3B, aiming to strengthen its developer tools and challenge Microsoft’s GitHub Copilot in the competitive AI coding landscape.

GenAI’s uptake is unprecedented despite roadblocks
GenAI adoption among U.S. firms has surged to 95%, with growing budgets and business gains, though scaling remains hindered by security, talent, and vendor challenges.

How AI is increasing insider threat risk
The rise of unauthorized AI tools in the workplace—known as shadow AI—is heightening insider threat risks, with data leaks and compliance breaches prompting urgent calls for clearer governance and user training.