May 20, 2025
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Former Department of Commerce CIO and President of Cambio Digital Transformations, Simon Szykman, shares his
insights on the incoming federal AI action plan. Drawing from an analysis of more than 10,000 public responses to a request for information (RFI), Szykman outlines five dominant themes that emerge from the public feedback. With the help of ChatGPT, which he humorously refers to as his unnamed assistant, Szykman distills a complex and massive dataset into actionable insights that reflect the federal government’s priorities and concerns around artificial intelligence.
The first and most prominent theme, he says, is a strong call for government leadership and policy. In Szykman’s view, such leadership is crucial for maintaining U.S. dominance in the AI space, not just from a technological standpoint but also for broader economic and national security purposes. He notes that AI is central to both battlefield advancements and intelligence analysis. Additionally, government policies will need to address power infrastructure demands, funding decisions, and the delicate balance between innovation and regulation. He mentions recent legislative developments that propose a 10-year moratorium on state-level AI regulations, highlighting the urgency and complexity of federal oversight.
The second theme centers on data security and infrastructure. Szykman points out that while the general risk management frameworks still apply, AI presents unique challenges that require heightened focus. Power consumption, for example, is a growing concern due to the infrastructure needed for large-scale AI training and deployment. He references a story about a West Virginia town grappling with the implications of a new data center as a real-world example of the tensions between innovation and community impact. Without proper policy guidance, he warns, AI could evolve in ways that produce unintended—and possibly inequitable—consequences.
The third theme is the need for responsible, ethical, and inclusive AI. Szykman acknowledges that while these terms are often grouped together, they each present distinct challenges. He argues that while most people can agree on what is clearly unethical or irresponsible, the gray areas will be more difficult to define. He expects philosophical differences to influence future policy decisions, making deliberative and transparent governance all the more essential.
Innovation and research make up the fourth theme. Szykman believes government investment in AI R&D should complement, not compete with, private sector efforts. He recommends focusing on areas less likely to attract commercial investment, such as energy-efficient models or AI systems requiring less training data. Adjacent technologies, like new processing methods, also deserve public funding to drive cost-effective advancements.
The fifth and final theme is education and workforce development. Szykman stresses the need for two levels of preparation: a skilled technical workforce to build and manage AI systems, and a broadly AI-literate public able to engage with the technology effectively. He draws parallels to the digital divide of broadband access and warns of a future where AI proficiency becomes another societal gap.
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