Labor Department to Use Artificial Intelligence in Improving Unemployment Insurance Program

The Department of Labor has partnered with Stanford University for an artificial intelligence prototyping project as part of the modernization road map for the unemployment insurance system. The launch of the project in May is one of the milestones under the $2 billion American Rescue Plan Act UI Modernization program, which aims to make the system more secure, equitable and accessible, FedScoop reported.

The department’s IT modernization guidance mandates the use of funds for technological solutions that will make agency websites and IT systems more user-friendly and flexible. States administering the unemployment insurance program use their own IT systems resulting in differences in ease of use, efficiency and user experience. DOL seeks to remedy this long-term through the building of a new ecosystem following open and modular solutions such as New Jersey’s new claim intake experience, which will launch in August and will be made available for use by other states.