Author Archive

Alexandra Kelley

Staff Correspondent, Nextgov/FCW

Alexandra Kelley
Alexandra Kelley reports on emerging technology for Nextgov/FCW. Her most recent post was covering breaking news for The Hill where she focused on a variety of quantitative subjects, including Big Tech and the economy, in addition to covering the coronavirus pandemic since late 2019. She graduated from Kenyon College in 2017.
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Bipartisan quantum funding bill advances from committee

The Department of Energy Quantum Leadership Act of 2024 will head to the Senate floor as part of a push to continue federal investment into quantum computing research and development.

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Microsoft and Atom Computing unveil 24-qubit quantum machine

The companies bet on neutral atoms and logical qubits to enable near-term, hybrid quantum computing.

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Potential year-end cyber executive order may hinge on election results, people familiar say

The pending order will focus heavily on federal cyber standards and emerging tech threats, but remains in limbo amid the presidential election.

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Success of the AI national security memo ‘will be in the implementation,’ industry says

Industry leaders aren’t shying away from more AI guardrails, but note oversight into the memo’s execution is important.

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Microsoft and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory bring AI to quantum chemistry research

An updated version of Microsoft’s Azure Quantum Elements that combines artificial intelligence and chemistry-specific software tools will be available on Github.

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Google announces AI offering for classified environments

A “large percentage” of U.S. military and intelligence agencies briefed on the upcoming Gemini version expressed interest in the tool, a Google executive said.

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Energy Dept. eyes hyperscalers as future leaders in carbon-free energy adoption

Leadership from the Department of Energy spoke on Wednesday about its ongoing discussions with leading data computing companies to continue grid decarbonization efforts amid artificial intelligence acceleration.

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OMB releases AI procurement guidelines

Interagency collaboration and risk mitigation are the two big themes included in the White House budget office's artificial intelligence software procurement guidance.

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Commerce shares financial goals for the US quantum industry

Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves offered insight into the burgeoning quantum information sciences industry in the U.S., focusing on financing and national security implications.

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White House leads public-private commitment to curb AI-based sexually abusive material

Leading private sector companies signed voluntary agreements with the White House to train and monitor their AI models to avoid such misuse.

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Microsoft unveils new quantum computing hybrid solution in Azure

Azure Quantum combines cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and logical qubits to bring quantum computing strength to scientific challenges.

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Microsoft, Palantir partner to expand AI offerings to defense and intelligence agencies

The new suite of offerings will be available on Microsoft’s Azure Government and Azure Government Secret and Top Secret clouds.

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Major tech companies pledge efforts to monitor AI-based content ahead of 2024 election

Senate Intel Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va., received responses from 19 tech companies pledging actions like content moderation, airtight watermarking and strict licensing practices.

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Biden looks to preserve tech, cyber legacy with veto threat

Experts see continuity in tech policy from the Biden administration to a possible Kamala Harris presidency, with possible divergence on some national security and antitrust issues.

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DHS selects 6 digital wallet startups for identity security contracts

The Homeland Security Department aims to facilitate more ways to comply with travel document requirements while safeguarding U.S. citizen privacy.

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Lawmaker set to introduce bill to standardize AI system testing

The proposed legislation would focus on standardizing how AI systems are tested for fairness and safety, with the National Institute of Standards and Technology at the forefront.

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Army plans multiple AI industry partnerships

Leadership from the military branch is interested in incorporating third party-generated algorithms for its operations, and is asking industry players for help.

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CISA conducts AI-driven cyber tabletop exercise with government and industry

The Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative participated in a hypothetical AI-powered cyberattack drill to update information sharing protocols tailored to disruptions to automated systems.

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Senators look to mitigate risks in AI procurement

Sens. Gary Peters and Thom Tillis introduced new legislation that would codify safety measures in government contracts for artificial intelligence products and services.

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DHS sets its research sights on 8 emerging technologies

The Department of Homeland Security’s Innovation, Research and Development Strategic Plan focuses its investments over the next seven years on AI, cybersecurity, biotech and more.