Calling it the “infrastructure for America’s AI future,” the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) recently launched USAi, a secure generative artificial intelligence evaluation suite enabling federal agencies to share a platform to test and evaluate emerging technologies without duplicating resources.
USAi is a secure, cloud-based environment designed to accelerate agency AI experimentation and support the creation of scalable, interoperable solutions that align with federal priorities. The platform features tools such as chat-based AI, code generation and document summarization. The belief is the platform will enable federal agencies to adopt artificial intelligence at scale — faster, safer and at no cost.
The launch follows the White House’s America’s AI Action Plan, a national strategy to strengthen U.S. leadership in AI.
In a press release announcing the launch, GSA said USAi will provide dashboards and analytics to help agencies track performance, measure maturity and guide adoption strategies. “Enabling organizations to explore capabilities, measure performance, and identify strengths and limitations across different AI systems, this solution empowers teams to make informed decisions about adoption, customization, and integration.”
By offering a centralized environment for experimentation, the platform supports both workforce upskilling and agency-level digital transformation, the release said.
“USAi isn’t just another tool, it’s infrastructure for America’s AI future,” said GSA Chief Information Officer David Shive. “USAi helps the government cut costs, improve efficiency, and deliver better services to the public, while maintaining the trust and security the American people expect.”
What Does USAi Mean?
This program sets out a vision for America winning the “AI race” and focuses on three areas:
- The program adopts moderate Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) standards for building trust while balancing security needs.
- Agency users are empowered to choose the best tools for themselves.
- This plan establishes regulatory guardrails around adoption.
Ultimately, USAi provides federal agencies a means to compete in ways they traditionally have not. It also sends a strong message to the public that government is innovating and responding to the clarion call for a more competitive and efficient government. This move will accelerate the adoption of AI into government business, bringing modernization and efficiency and will fundamentally shape how the federal government adopts AI.
Contractors, procurers and others who do business with the government should watch closely how this suite of tools evolves. The USAi plan is telegraphing to outside users what the government is thinking and which tools they will adopt. Knowing the standards being used and the tools being adopted provides insight and will allow those who pay attention to know answers before the questions are asked, which is extremely useful when understanding regulations, enforcement and other interactions.
It comes at a time when many governments at the federal, state and local level are considering leveraging AI for efficiency because of tight budgets and rising demand. Not all are moving as fast as the federal government, and critics will say it is too fast and at a pace it will struggle to maintain, but many are considering how to incorporate AI into their business practices. The National Association of State Procurement Officials recently polled U.S. chief procurement officers and most said AI was a key priority in 2025. According to Bloomberg Philanthropies, 96% of mayors nationally expressed interests in using GenAI, while only 2% were implementing it.
As state and local governments evolve their AI strategies, it is of paramount importance to articulate a vision and adopt standards to build trust, transparency and security. Creating a foundation of clear documentation regarding budgets, desired outcomes, team structure and leadership are just as critical as developing a sound AI governance policy. The USAi policy and resources will help facilitate development of these requirements.
Adopters would be wise to consider both successful and unsuccessful use cases. Several governments have adopted successful initiatives, such as Boston using chatbots during the pandemic to address hunger-related challenges, or Pittsburgh, where the city is leveraging AI to optimize traffic flow. On the other hand, Michigan stumbled (more than 12 years ago) when developing a program to manage its unemployment system, leading to years of litigation and wasted spending.
Caution is Important When Adopting AI
It is essential, no matter what level of government, that the adoption of AI includes overall policies that ensure consistent, transparent governance across departments; protect against legal, ethical, and reputational risks; and build public trust with oversight, audits and incident reporting.
Governments, federal or local, and those who do business with them, must adopt AI thoughtfully and be guided by strong policies and legal advice that identifies, evaluates and mitigates risks, while taking advantage of opportunity.
