In a rather unusual development regarding the US Secret Service, the protective agency is taking its first steps into AI and is spending over $50,000 on Microsoft Azure and OpenAI’s cloud services. What’s unusual in all this is that the Secret Service is not disclosing why exactly it is investing in AI and what it hopes to use it for.
This information came to light through documents obtained by 404 Media, revealing the agency’s growing interest in leveraging AI technology in its operations and functioning.
While the exact purpose of the investment remains a mystery, the Secret Service has been tight-lipped, stating that it does not disclose details about its operational methods.
Keeping it under wraps
Though AI is becoming a buzzword in tech circles, the Secret Service doesn’t specify how it plans to use Microsoft Azure and OpenAI’s services. In a memo from September 2023, the agency noted the need for cloud-based AI services but gave no further details.
The Chief Information Office of the Secret Service appears to be behind on the purchase, which could extend through June of this year.
Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI service offers various features, from building chatbots to predictive analytics, making it versatile for all applications. However, when pressed about whether this AI tech might play a role in future criminal prosecutions, the Secret Service remained silent, reiterating that all technology must meet its strict security standards.
Federal guidelines for AI
This move by the Secret Service aligns with broader changes in US federal policy around AI. In March, the White House introduced a new policy to ensure federal agencies use AI responsibly.
This policy stresses the need for proper safeguards, particularly when AI might impact Americans’ rights or safety. Agencies are also required to keep inventories of their AI projects, although more sensitive projects can be hidden from public view.
Interestingly, the Secret Service’s purchase comes not long after Microsoft developed a version of GPT-4 specifically for US intelligence agencies. AI’s role in federal work is rising, with the US Agency for International Development already becoming the first federal agency to adopt ChatGPT Enterprise earlier this year.
For now, the Secret Service is playing its cards close to the chest, leaving the public wondering what AI-powered tools are being quietly developed behind the scenes.
