I'd like to recognize Mr. Hyson, too.
Please begin your opening statement.
All right, Sherwin Sherwin, Murray, May, Ranking Member Connerly, and distinguished
members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today.
I'd like to note that in addition to serving as the department's
Chief Information Officer secretary, my work is also named me.
Today is the first DHS Chief Artificial Intelligence officer.
I'd like to talk with you today about three concrete use cases
where DHS is already using AI to deliver clear benefits for the American people
and then share the comprehensive measures we are taking to ensure
that our use of AI is safe, responsible and rights respecting.
First, DHS is using AI to keep dangerous drugs out of our country.
Recently, a car drove north from Mexico and approached
the San Ysidro port of entry in San Diego, California.
In the past, the Customs and Border Protection Officer that inspected
that car would likely have had no reason to give it extra scrutiny.
But this time, one of our machine learning models
noticed a potentially suspicious pattern in the vehicle's crossing history.
After looking at the model's flag, the officer decided to refer the car
to secondary inspection, where we discovered and seized nearly
60 kilograms of fentanyl and 16 kilograms of meth
concealed in the vehicle's rear quarter panels and gas tank.
If not for this use of AI, those drugs could be on our streets.
Second, DHS is using
AI to aid our law enforcement officers in investigating heinous crimes.
Last month, Homeland Security investigations announced the completion
of one of the most successful operations ever against child sexual abuse online.
Operation Renewed Hope resulted in identifying 311
previously unknown victims
of sexual exploitation and led to the rescue of several victims
from active abuse and the arrests of suspected perpetrators.
This operation relied on the expertise and dedication
of our agents and our partners domestically and abroad.
But our agents had an extra tool at their disposal.
Machine learning algorithms were used to enhance
older images and give investigators new leads.
Through this use of AI, we were able to turn formerly cold cases
into rescues and arrests.
Finally, DHS is using A.I.
to make air travel easier and safer.
TSA has started rolling out touchless pre-check in select airports,
a new optional way of going through the airport,
curb to gate without ever taking out your wallet.
Once you opt in, you can check your bag, go through the security checkpoint
and board your flight, all with just a quick photo.
This process and TSA is acceptance
of mobile driver's licenses in seven states and counting.
Use thoroughly tested AI powered algorithms to save time, reduce
physical touchpoints, and increase security by verifying identity more
and more accurately.
While I've
highlighted these three examples today, DHS will use A.I.
to transform all parts of our operation
from detecting and mitigating cybersecurity vulnerabilities
to enhancing maritime search and rescue operations and far beyond, A.I.
will provide smarter and timelier information to our agents and officers
to aid them in making decisions and free them up
from routine tasks to focus on higher value work.
As we move forward, we will ensure that our use of A.I.
is responsible and trustworthy,
that it is rigorously tested to be effective, that it safeguards
privacy, civil rights and civil liberties while avoiding inappropriate biases.
And to the extent possible, that is transparent and explainable
to the people we serve.
Last month, Secretary Mayorkas issued our key principles for responsible air use.
We are applying these principles through the DHS A.I.
Task, which I lead alongside our Undersecretary for Science and Technology.
By issuing comprehensive policies on specific types of A.I.,
as we did just this week with the New Year,
with new restrictions on our use of facial recognition,
we will work alongside our internal and external oversight partners
to include Congress and this subcommittee as we work to implement Nist's A.I.
Risk Management framework and remain
fully compliant with evolving laws, practices and policies.
Thank you again for the opportunity to testify today.
I look forward to your questions. Thank you. Mr. Hyson.
I know votes have just been called.
I'm going to before I are you concerned that as an AI systems become more mature
and complicated, that criminals will have greater opportunity
commit heinous crimes like child exploitation?
Congressman, we absolutely are concerned there.
However, we are also looking to harness AI to combat those crimes.
I shared earlier our work of Homeland Security investigations and Operation
Renewed Hope, which used AI to help rescue victims from active abuse,
as well as to arrest suspected perpetrators.
So as we are looking to better defend the use of A.I.
to commit these crimes, we are also using it to defend against them.
The protections have to be built at the same time as, you know,
all the fruits of what air can bring us, you know, have to be there.
We are most vulnerable, I believe.
Are are those most likely to be harmed by?
You know, a lot of the CIA technology.
Now, expand the scope of this question and include America's adversaries,
unleashing increasingly powerful cyber attacks against us critical systems.
What is DHS doing in preparation to respond with the use of A.I.
in those respects? Absolutely.
We are and have been for
the entire administration, concerned about adversarial use of A.I.
against federal and critical infrastructure networks.
Secretary, my work is to establish our Artificial Intelligence Task Force,
which I co-lead and charged us with looking at the use of A.I.
to secure critical infrastructure as one of our critical objectives.
We are working with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
to look at how we can effectively partner with critical infrastructure
organizations on safeguarding their uses of AI and strengthening
their cybersecurity practices writ large to defend against evolving threats.
Very Americans.
Mr. Hayes.
And briefly, you mentioned that are recognized
patterns in a crossing at the border.
How would that relate to the instinct
you believe that could dull the human instincts
in judgment, in law enforcement and law enforcement
operations in, similar to the way that,
like many engineers, now cannot use a slide rule?
We don't remember phone numbers anymore.
They're not contact data.
Most Americans cannot read maps and operate a compass
anymore or use chips that kids in school cannot.
They're not taught cursive script.
And yet all our historical documents are written in cursive script.
You understand where I'm going with this?
Please briefly, if the chairman will allow address that as it would
relate to the instincts of law enforcement
to witness me, answer the question, Congressman, thank you.
I certainly acknowledge the risk
and want to assure you that we are leveraging A.I.
as decision support for our law enforcement officers, but
that ultimately
our officers are the ones responsible for making law enforcement decisions.
I also see tremendous potential to use A.I.
to remove repetitive paperwork and administrative tasks
that our officers have to do that they would tell me value
and they tell me dulls their focus from their security mission.