New Artificial Intelligence Technologies Join DHS Use Case Inventory

The Department of Homeland Security has added new facial comparison and machine learning applications to its artificial intelligence use case inventory. The update covers technologies used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Transportation Security Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, FedScoop reported Thursday.

FEMA utilizes machine learning in its geospatial damage assessments, while CBP uses AI to guide port of entry risk assessment decisions. Meanwhile, CBP and TSA use the facial comparison capabilities of the Traveler Verification Service to check identities.

All four applications have been publicly known before their addition to the inventory. In response to a query about their late inclusion, a DHS representative said the agency only recently passed an internal evaluation to determine whether sensitive AI use cases are safe to share.

The department also updated its AI use case inventory in August, adding facial recognition technology utilized by CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement and a document management tool.

A Trump-era executive order requires federal agencies to release an annual inventory of such applications.