President Joe Biden’s Executive Order on AI marks one of the most comprehensive pieces of federal AI guidance thus far, but the incoming administration has expressed plans to revoke that order. As such, data governance will be increasingly critical for security. In September, the Data Foundation released a report intended to guide policymakers on data governance in the age of AI.
A new survey, Five Years of Progress and the Road Ahead: Insights from the 2024 Survey of Federal Chief Data Officers, performed by the Data Foundation and Deloitte, examines the changing role of CDOs since the passage of the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act. This is the fifth iteration of this survey. It includes insight from department-, agency- and bureau-level chief data officers and statistical officials.
The document reveals that CDOs’ priorities and responsibilities are expanding, in part to prepare for AI implementations, but more clarity is needed in several areas.
One key finding reveals CDOs would like further clarity on the responsibilities and expectations for their roles as related to AI. Ninety percent of respondents currently use AI, but 43 percent of respondents still reported the lack of AI-related guidance as a barrier to organizational use of the technology. Nearly half of respondents, or 47 percent, reported a need for further guidance on CDOs’ AI-related responsibilities.
In addition, while CDOs see the rise of the chief artificial intelligence officer position as complementary to their work, the survey illustrated that there may be potential redundancy between the two positions. In fact, 13 percent of CDO respondents reported also holding the role of “AI official.”
Additionally, the majority of respondents underlined the need for further guidance from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to implement Evidence Act provisions.
The survey includes specific recommendations to combat these gaps.
First, it recommends OMB should issue guidance clarifying the roles and responsibilities of CDOs. Agency leaders can also provide clear definitions of roles within their organizations for improved collaboration.
Second, OMB should work with the Federal CDO Council to develop guidelines informing data management for AI activities; and the council should develop shared resources on AI best practices for CDOs. For agency-specific CDO guidance, agency leaders should create frameworks outlining the CDO’s role in the AI implementation process.
Third, the Federal CDO Council is encouraged to create a coordinated approach — including the development of templates — to help CDOs communicate the value of their role to leadership, which will strengthen their ability to advocate for resources.
Fourth, OMB leadership could offer governmentwide strategy through an updated release of its Action Plan in coordination with the Federal CDO Council, to support a coordinated implementation of the Federal Data Strategy. The majority of respondents said an updated plan would be helpful.
While barriers — from budget constraints to lack of data literacy among staff — still exist in implementing technology like AI, CDOs still report plans to adopt AI technologies over the next year to help in areas such as making data more accessible.
The survey notes that the evolving data management landscape paired with the rapid advance of AI technology puts emphasis on CDOs’ role in the future of Federal Data Strategy implementation, concluding that addressing the barriers outlined in this survey will help the federal government better use data “to become more efficient, more transparent, and improve outcomes.”
