The recently formed federal Super Intelligence (AI) Task Force was scheduled to hold its inaugural meeting. Ahead of the meeting, task force member Scott Kupor, Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), told Politico that the group expects to release a charter outlining its goals and responsibilities. Kupor also said the task force will work with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and other law enforcement agencies on AI safety efforts. Rather than directly evaluating frontier AI models, the group is expected to focus on establishing standards and guidance within existing legal authorities.
Thank you for reading. Below, in addition to rounding up this week’s tech policy news highlights, we share a featured podcast and blog.
This Week in Washington
- CyberScoop: Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) sent a bipartisan letter to new AI czar Jay Clayton and Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) director Michael Kratsios this week focused on AI safety. In the letter, they asked the administration to expand the mandate and resources of the Center for Advancing Innovation and Standards for Super Intelligence (CAISSI), specifically around ensuring AI model safety and increasing the use of AI in cybersecurity.
- FedScoop: The OPM released a new AI chatbot that allows the public to ask questions about the federal workforce. The chatbot, called FWD Chat, or Federal Workforce Data Chat, is still in beta testing but will ultimately be integrated into America.gov.
- POLITICO: A critical motor safety center, the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) contact center, was temporarily taken down by a cyberattack, according to the center’s cybersecurity provider. The attack marked the third major breach of federal systems in the last month.
Article Summary
- CBS News: Georgia Tech officially opened access to its new supercomputer, Nexus, last week. The computer, built through a $20 million investment from the National Science Foundation (NSF), will support academics across the country pursuing innovative research.
- North Country Public Radio: The majority of New York State school districts do not have a formal artificial intelligence use policy in place, according to a new study by New York Focus. Only 270 of the 680 districts polled had a board-approved policy for responsible and effective AI use.
- Reuters: Startups and established tech companies are finding new technologies aimed at reducing the drain of power and resources that data centers can cause. Innovations include geothermal energy sources, direct-to-chip cooling systems, and climate-tech innovation hubs.
Featured Podcast
- Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast
Last week, Microsoft released its annual digital defense report, a deep dive into the current cybersecurity state of play, ranging from AI-based threats to phishing, vulnerability management, and new tools reshaping how we protect our critical systems. Microsoft’s Threat Intelligence Podcast breaks it down in detail. (Inside this year’s Microsoft Digital Defense Report – October 10, 2026 – 35-minute listen)
Note: Voices for Innovation regularly shares a range of opinion articles and press releases from organizations in and publications covering tech policy. These pieces are meant to educate our audience, not to endorse specific platforms or bills.