NewsBrief March 18, 2022

Generating real-world evidence at scale using advanced analytics

(McKinsey & Company) Advanced techniques for generating real-world evidence (RWE) help pharmaceutical companies deliver insights that transform outcomes for patients—and create significant value. McKinsey estimates that over the next three to five years, an average top-20 pharma company could unlock more than $300 million a year by adopting advanced RWE analytics across its value chain. Read More

Creating an Effective Framework for DoD’s Software Factories

(MeriTalk) The Department of Defense (DoD) last month released its Software Modernization Strategy, an important step to unifying existing technology and directing a more joint approach to systems of the future. It notes that our competitive posture is “reliant on strategic insight, proactive innovation, and effective technology integration enabled through software capabilities.” Further, it asks DoD entities that are driving software development to address management and governance of the 29 software factories spread across the services. Read More

GSA Seeks Support Services for Defense Innovation Unit

(ExecutiveGov) The General Services Administration has released an advanced notice to inform potential contractors about an upcoming opportunity in support of the Defense Innovation Unit. The potential five-year contract would provide for scientific, technical and subject matter expertise that can support DIU in multiple areas including artificial intelligence, machine learning, autonomous systems, information technology, cyber, space technology, human systems and advanced energy and materials, GSA said Thursday in a SAM.gov notice. Read More

Pacific air forces commander says future fleet should be mostly unmanned

(fedscoop) When the technology is ready, the majority of U.S. Air Force combat aircraft deployed to the Indo-Pacific theater in the future should be unmanned in order to “stress” Chinese air defenses, the commander of Pacific Air Forces said Monday. Beijing’s anti-access/area-denial capabilities are “very robust” especially in eastern China and in the South China Sea, Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach noted at a virtual event hosted by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. Read More

Data and the cyber workforce

(FCW) The government needs better data on the cybersecurity workforce and the two co-chairs of a National Academy of Public Administration report on the cybersecurity workforce released last month think a new government entity could help. The report called on the White House’s Office for the National Cyber Director to take the lead of coordinating a multi-sector effort on the cybersecurity workforce. That’s something the ONCD has since indicated it is looking to do. Read More

Cybersecurity trends: Looking over the horizon

(McKinsey & Company) Cybersecurity has always been a never-ending race, but the rate of change is accelerating. Companies are continuing to invest in technology to run their businesses. Now, they are layering more systems into their IT networks to support remote work, enhance the customer experience, and generate value, all of which creates potential new vulnerabilities. Read More

Data Center Initiative Gets Mixed Review from GAO

(FEDweek) GAO has given a mixed review to the data center optimization initiative, finding that while the two dozen agencies involved exceeded their goal for closing centers in 2020, they were less successful in meeting their goals to optimize continuing centers–such as reducing the number of underutilized servers—due to technical and budget constraints. Read More

Researchers develop hybrid human-machine framework for building smarter AI

(ScienceDaily) From chatbots that answer tax questions to algorithms that drive autonomous vehicles and dish out medical diagnoses, artificial intelligence undergirds many aspects of daily life. Creating smarter, more accurate systems requires a hybrid human-machine approach, according to researchers at the University of California, Irvine. In a study published this month in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, they present a new mathematical model that can improve performance by combining human and algorithmic predictions and confidence scores. Read More

Committee Calls for More Guidance on Agency Use of AI

(FEDweek) A lack of guidance to federal agencies on use of artificial intelligence—even as that use is growing rapidly “presents a risk of misuse and the potential for discrimination impacting individuals and groups,” according to a Senate report on a bill now ready for voting. “One concern is the ownership and security of data held by the federal government, including Americans’ personally identifiable information. Read More

The next generation of robots will be shape-shifters

(ScienceDaily) Authors of the study believe their breakthrough modelling on ‘active matter’ could mark a turning point in the design of robots. With further development of the concept, it may be possible to determine the shape, movement and behaviour of a soft solid not by its natural elasticity but by human-controlled activity on its surface. Read More