October 15, 2024
Last year, we were all dazzled by Artificial Intelligence vacuuming up words to spit out text, collecting code, and generating code.
Well, it’s time to see if those parlor tricks can be applied to federal work.
Bob Ritchie is a self-proclaimed “code warrior” with years of experience evaluating federal software projects. He mentions three areas where AI can help federal projects.
It’s tedious work to review code and try to make improvements. Software developers’ analytical abilities can be better utilized by having the code highlighted and remediating the problem.
Security. A famous phrase in software development is “shift left.” Problems arise when security mandates are applied to existing codes. If you assume a timeline in software creation, a shift to the left means putting the correct code before release.
"What I found most interesting about AI adoption, and really leaning into AI adoption in a secure way, is how much toll it can eliminate from our lives "
AI can help developers look at previous code iterations and quickly make security changes before release.
Humans. Bob Ritchie has seen the power of AI and has also seen analysts not using correct prompts to take advantage of that power. His solution is to create a variation on the popular Hack-a-thon: a “prompt-a-thon.”
In other words, you need to get a group of people together and help them understand the proper way to word a prompt to get the results you need.
This is a fascinating interview with a well-known expert who provides an excellent summary of current policy trends and the impact of AI on government modernization efforts.
If you enjoyed this episode, then you may want to listen to
Episode 196 – AI in a World of Data Poisoning and Automated Chaos
Explores the risks and complexities of AI, making it a valuable complement to Episode 186’s future-of-work focus.
Episode 193 – Evolution of DevOps to AIOps
Highlights automation and AI in government IT operations, offering a practical take on AI’s current role in federal tech
Great insight into not just DevSecOps and Coders but also how AI is being elevated to change traditional workflows. Saving the all precious time and resources to focus on positive outcomes!