USDA’s Arianne Gallagher-Welcher on AI use cases across the agency

Arianne Gallagher-Welcher, Executive Director, Digital Service, at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), discussed leveraging AI to improve digital services. The agency has over 100 generative AI use cases, with a notable success in predicting fuel consumption for firefighting. Gallagher-Welcher emphasized the importance of equipping USDA’s 90,000 employees with AI tools to handle complex missions, including nutrition programs tailored to each state’s guidelines. She also highlighted the need for workforce development, skills training and industry partnerships to adapt to technological changes, ensuring employees can effectively use AI to enhance service delivery and impact.