Axios AM Live Summit: Our institutions must adapt, government leaders say

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Officials from federal agencies and local governments at a June 9 Axios Live event said public-sector organizations should embrace nimbleness.

Why it matters: The rise of artificial intelligence and shifting economic conditions are putting pressure on leaders to innovate and support their workforces and communities.

• The summit was sponsored by Anthropic.

What they're saying:

• 10 years is "too slow" to build "our first AI supercomputer for science," U.S. Department of Energy undersecretary for science Dario Gil said.
• "We are growing at a rate less than inflation, so that necessitates different thinking," Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser said.
• "I'm trying to introduce … measured risk" in decision-making, Office of Personnel Management director Scott Kupor said. "Let's at least have the conversation about, OK, what's the downside that might happen here?"

Threat level: Winning "the AI arms race" is crucial, U.S. Small Business Administration head Kelly Loeffler said.

• "If China wins, this is going to be really problematic for the entire country."

Yes, but: Some communities risk being left behind, said Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.).

• Advancement must be "democratized" and reach "every neighborhood, senior centers, after-school programs, churches [and] small businesses," he added.

The bottom line: "The most important thing … is to move with the speed that is commensurate with the technological revolution that is unfolding," Gil said.

Content from the sponsor's segment:

Anthropic is "an organization with a very clear mission, and that is to help humanity get through the AI transition as safely as we possibly can so that we can get to the benefits," said its head of North American government affairs, Brian Peters.

• The Trump administration and Congress should be focused on "urgency" and "oversight" when it comes to AI, Peters added.