OpEd
John Bailey
An AI Healthcare Coalition Suggests a Better ...

In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), the dialogue often veers between the extremes of stringent regulation, like the European Union’s AI Act, and laissez-faire approaches that risk unbridled technological advances without sufficient safeguards. Amidst this polarized debate, the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI) has emerged as a promising alternative approach that addresses the ethical, social, and economic complexities introduced by AI, while also supporting continued innovation.  

An AI Healthcare Coalition Suggests a Better Way of Approaching Responsible AI
John Bailey
Understanding the Capabilities of GenAI

It's difficult to understand some technologies because they're better experienced than described. I've found GenAI to be one example where it's difficult to grasp the full range of capabilities unless you see some of it in action. Over the last year, I've given a number of presentations that tried to contextualize GenAI for the audience by demonstrating relevant use cases. I compiled them in this long master deck, which I periodically update and am sharing in the hope that it may spark some ideas for you.

Understanding the Capabilities of GenAI
John Bailey
Faster, Please! Podcast Discussion on AI

I had a great time joining James Pethokoukis on his podcast, Faster, Please! We touched on a number of areas including how AI can help improve teaching and learning.

Faster, Please! Podcast Discussion on AI
John Bailey
Why AI Struggles with Basic Math (and How ...

Large Language Models (LLMs) have ushered in a new era of artificial intelligence (AI) demonstrating remarkable capabilities in language generation, translation, and reasoning. Yet, LLMs often stumble over basic math problems, posing a problem for their use in settings—including education—where math is essential. However, these limitations are being addressed through improvements in the models themselves along with better prompting strategies.  

Why AI Struggles with Basic Math (and How That’s Changing)
John Bailey
2023 Wrap-Up

As we close out 2023, I find myself reflecting on a year filled with both personal achievements and significant developments in the world of AI. It was an honor to learn that several of my written works were recognized and included in various "best of" lists.

2023 Wrap-Up

OpEd

An AI Healthcare Coalition Suggests a Better Way of Approaching Responsible AI

An AI Healthcare Coalition Suggests a Better Way of Approaching Responsible AI

In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), the dialogue often veers between the extremes of stringent regulation, like the European Union’s AI Act, and laissez-faire approaches that risk unbridled technological advances without sufficient safeguards. Amidst this polarized debate, the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI) has emerged as a promising alternative approach that addresses the ethical, social, and economic complexities introduced by AI, while also supporting continued innovation.  

Autonomous Vehicles: A Safer Road Ahead

Autonomous Vehicles: A Safer Road Ahead

Recent studies reveal autonomous vehicles (AVs) boast impressive safety records, with far fewer and less severe crashes compared to conventional cars. Advanced AV systems that constantly monitor surroundings, precisely follow traffic laws, and avoid dangerous situations contribute to their superior performance. With rapid technological improvements enabling AVs to learn from analyzing massive amounts of human driving data, they are poised to drastically reduce traffic accidents and fatalities. Further real-world experience for AVs promises to refine their systems and enhance safety even more. Regulators should enable this progress while enacting reasonable safeguards.

ChatGOV: Harnessing the Power of AI for Better Government Service Delivery

ChatGOV: Harnessing the Power of AI for Better Government Service Delivery

The capabilities of AI promise not only efficiency but potentially a more accessible interface for citizens. As governments begin to integrate these technologies into their service-delivery mechanisms, it is imperative to approach the adoption with due diligence, guided by robust frameworks like NIST’s AI RMF. With a combination of strategic foresight, stakeholder engagement, and capacity building, governments can harness the power of AI to truly transform public service, making it more responsive and citizen-centric than ever before.

Leveraging AI’s Immense Capabilities While Safeguarding the Mental Health of Our YouthLeveraging AI’s Immense Capabilities While Safeguarding the Mental Health of Our Youth

Leveraging AI’s Immense Capabilities While Safeguarding the Mental Health of Our YouthLeveraging AI’s Immense Capabilities While Safeguarding the Mental Health of Our Youth

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) coincides with a concerning public health crisis of loneliness and isolation, particularly among young people. According to a CDC survey, a shocking 44% of adolescents are dealing with constant feelings of sadness and hopelessness. As AI technology becomes more prevalent, concerns are growing about its potential to worsen these emotional struggles. This new technological context necessitates a deeper investigation into the role AI might play in intensifying these existing societal issues.

The Promise of Personalized Learning Never Delivered. Today’s AI Is Different

The Promise of Personalized Learning Never Delivered. Today’s AI Is Different

Over the past decade, many have been disappointed by the unfulfilled promises of technology transforming education. However, recent advancements in AI, such as OpenAI's GPT-4, may signal a genuine breakthrough. These large-language models have smarter capabilities, function as reasoning engines, use language as an interface, and are scaling rapidly thanks to tech giants. As a result, AI-powered tutoring and teaching assistants are emerging to provide individualized learning, automate administrative tasks, and offer constructive critiques on student writing. While there are limitations, it is expected that future iterations will address these issues. Harnessing AI's potential could lead to a future where education is more effective, equitable, and personalized, with teachers focusing on fostering meaningful connections with their students.

From Automation to Reinvention: How AI Is Shifting the Nature of Work

From Automation to Reinvention: How AI Is Shifting the Nature of Work

The rise of AI technologies like ChatGPT promises to boost global GDP by 7% in a decade, according to Goldman Sachs. However, this may disrupt 63% of US jobs, including higher-skilled professions like auditors and interpreters. These AI tools will change the nature of work, shifting focus from mundane tasks to more advanced, human-centric activities. Surprisingly, AI could benefit the least skilled workers, narrowing the performance gap among employees. While job displacement is inevitable, the larger disruption may be the creation of new, hybrid jobs combining domain expertise with AI skills. Policymakers must proactively invest in education and workforce training to ease these transitions and capitalize on AI's productivity potential.

Building Trust in AI: A Call for Clear Guidelines to Harness Its Benefits

Building Trust in AI: A Call for Clear Guidelines to Harness Its Benefits

Policymakers have yet to fully understand the profound effect the AI revolution will have on our economy, national security, and social well-being. AI, for all its benefits, will also present new risks, challenges, and tensions with our values. To prevent the worst consequences of AI, clear regulations are needed to harness its benefits while managing its risks.

Assessing the Threat of AI Misuse in Disinformation Campaigns

Assessing the Threat of AI Misuse in Disinformation Campaigns

OpenAI. Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology and the Stanford Internet Observatory wrote a provocative report surfacing misinformation risks posed by AI.   The report provides a thoughtful framework through which to think about the threat of AI-enabled influence operations and some of the steps that can minimize those risks along with their associated trade-offs.

Quarantines, Not School Closures, Led to Devastating Losses in Math and Reading

Quarantines, Not School Closures, Led to Devastating Losses in Math and Reading

The recent dismal results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress introduced a new learning-loss puzzle. It was assumed that states with more remote instruction would have lower academic scores than those with more in-person classes during the pandemic. But states that had more days of in-class learning also saw declines. The likely reason is due to the hidden disruptions to student learning caused by COVID quarantines.  

Meet ChatGPT: The AI Chatbot That Can Write Code, Pass Exams, and Generate Business Ideas

Meet ChatGPT: The AI Chatbot That Can Write Code, Pass Exams, and Generate Business Ideas

Just over a week ago, OpenAI introduced ChatGPT, a cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot that uses a massive dataset to generate human-like responses to text-based inputs. In just five days, the chatbot reached over one million users, a milestone that took Facebook almost a year to achieve when it first launched. As we continue to develop and advance this technology, it will undoubtedly have a significant effect on the future of work and the way we approach tasks and responsibilities. It is important that we carefully consider how we can use AI to its full potential while also mitigating any possible negative effects. By doing so, we can ensure that AI will be a powerful and positive force for change.

A New Apprenticeship Requirement Could Slow Federally Funded Energy Projects

A New Apprenticeship Requirement Could Slow Federally Funded Energy Projects

The IRA’s new tax incentives create a massive demand for apprenticeships, which should be celebrated. However, federal and state policymakers must act quickly to set up those apprenticeship programs so there are no delays in building out the new climate projects ushered in by the IRA.

Federal Regulators Should Approve Election Prediction Markets

Federal Regulators Should Approve Election Prediction Markets

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) continues to wrestle with how to best regulate prediction markets. The commission is expected to make a decision as soon as this week on whether the startup Kalshi can offer a market on the outcome of the upcoming midterms. Election prediction markets have proven to be a powerful tool for forecasting elections and are typically more accurate, timely, and complete than conventional methods. Kalshi’s proposal does not pose a risk to the integrity of the US election system. Approving Kalshi’s submission would be a step in the right direction for the commission and promotes the public interest

Why Arati Prabhakar is Uniquely Suited to Lead OSTP

Why Arati Prabhakar is Uniquely Suited to Lead OSTP

On September 22, the Senate confirmed Arati Prabhakar as White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) director, the first woman of color and immigrant to hold the position. Prabhakar is uniquely suited for navigating these challenges. She previously headed the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. She held several roles in Silicon Valley, including with the early-stage venture firm US Venture Partners, and she recently founded the nonprofit Actuate, which seeks to bring new actors to the table in developing solutions for areas such as climate, health, and trustworthy data. She will be able to draw on that public and private sector experience to shape how agencies stand up these new programs and design the guidelines and rules for new funding streams.

Implementing Federal Innovation Programs: A Road Map for States

Implementing Federal Innovation Programs: A Road Map for States

An unexpectedly productive Congress has passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), CHIPS Act, and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which aim to improve America’s infrastructure, boost competitiveness with China, and accelerate new climate technologies. Attention now shifts to implementation. State and community leaders should begin work now to prepare for funding competitions on the horizon.

Congress Must Pass Innovation Legislation, Despite Hurdles

Congress Must Pass Innovation Legislation, Despite Hurdles

Senate leaders are expected to release updated text on a slimmed-down set of bills to bolster the US semiconductor chip industry. The measures will likely include $52 billion in subsidies and an investment tax credit to boost US manufacturing, but the rest of the Bipartisan Innovation Act (BIA) remains in limbo at a time when more urgent action is needed. Strengthening America’s leadership in science and innovation tomorrow will depend on three crucial areas of investments needed today in bolstering semiconductor manufacturing, boosting federal R&D, and addressing the talent gap.

American Space Achievements: Lessons from the Past Year

American Space Achievements: Lessons from the Past Year

The past year was filled with incredible technological breakthroughs and moments of inspiration. We should celebrate these achievements, but also use them as a call for continued action to strengthen the pipelines that enable innovation. Federal policymakers and regulators should double down on using public-private partnerships and creating more regulatory room to test and scale innovations. One important element of this work should involve reviewing existing regulatory processes that may need modernization.

Are Federal Broadband Grants Taxable?

Are Federal Broadband Grants Taxable?

Casey Lide of Keller and Heckman recently wrote a blog post warning that federal grant funding might be considered taxable income by the IRS. This unexpected tax liability could severely curtail the impact of federal grant programs designed to expand affordable broadband connectivity and close the digital divide. The Biden administration is weighing available options for using executive authority to exempt these projects, but a better remedy is for Congress to pass a clean and clear extension.

Reset Strategies Now, Prepare for the Future

Reset Strategies Now, Prepare for the Future


The rapidly receding Omicron wave of Covid-19 presents a moment to pause and reflect on our pandemic strategy and make needed and, in some cases, long overdue adjustments. This is also the time to prepare for future pandemic risks. As we move forward, it is important for policymakers and health authorities to review which measures have worked, which policies have fallen short, and which actions have produced too little public-health benefit relative to the costs they have imposed on families and, too often, on children.

America’s public schools and non-profits will play a crucial role in resettling Afghan refugees

America’s public schools and non-profits will play a crucial role in resettling Afghan refugees

The U.S. government bears much of the responsibility for the unfolding refugee crisis. Schools must have the resources and support they need to help Afghan families resettle and adjust to their new homes. These families put their lives on the line to advance American interests in Afghanistan. Let’s honor that sacrifice by helping them rebuild their lives here in the U.S.