The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released the "Generative AI Public Sector Playbook," a guide aimed at assisting government officials in effectively deploying generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) technologies. This playbook provides actionable steps and examples drawn from DHS's own experiences with GenAI, helping federal, state, and local officials enhance their service delivery through responsible AI development.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas emphasized the importance of this resource: “The rapid evolution of GenAI presents tremendous opportunities for public sector organizations. DHS is at the forefront of federal efforts to responsibly harness the potential of AI technology,” he said. He further expressed hope that leaders across various levels of government would join in fostering a culture of innovation focused on responsibility and mission goals.

Eric Hysen, Chief Information Officer at DHS, highlighted the significance of this release: “The release of this playbook marks a significant step forward in our efforts to integrate safe and secure AI use responsibly and effectively within the public sector,” he stated. The aim is to empower other agencies by sharing best practices that safeguard individual rights and privacy while enhancing their missions.

DHS has been actively integrating AI into its operations over recent years, implementing initiatives across cybersecurity, border security, disaster response, and immigration services. Notable efforts include establishing an Artificial Intelligence Task Force, publishing an AI Roadmap, and forming an AI Corps to recruit top talent in the field.

The playbook includes case studies from DHS pilots that explored GenAI applications for investigative leads, hazard mitigation planning for local governments, and innovative training for immigration officers. It offers recommendations based on these experiences for public sector entities at any stage of their AI journey.

Outlined steps in the playbook include developing mission-aligned GenAI use cases, building organizational coalitions for governance, leveraging technical tools and infrastructure, ensuring ethical AI use, measuring progress through key performance indicators, upskilling employees, attracting technical talent, and engaging stakeholders throughout development.

This initiative reflects DHS's commitment to transparency and responsible AI usage while safeguarding American citizens' safety and privacy. Recent actions include updating its AI Use Case Inventory for public visibility into non-sensitive uses across the department and launching a framework promoting safe AI development in critical infrastructure sectors.

As DHS continues advancing its AI strategies, it plans to share additional insights from ongoing projects. Interested parties can access more information through dedicated web pages on Generative AI Public Sector Playbook and Artificial Intelligence at DHS.