Author Archive
Alexandra Kelley
Staff Correspondent, Nextgov/FCW
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. If you have a tip you'd like to share, Alexandra can be securely contacted at alexak17.64 on Signal.
Exclusive
Companies
Anthropic held cyberthreat briefings with agency CIOs last month
Discussions included how to defend digital assets following the debut of advanced AI models, like Anthropic’s Mythos.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Companies
Trump signs AI executive order after postponement last month
The order encourages developers of advanced AI to grant the U.S. and certain critical infrastructure operators 30 days of pre-release model access. Earlier drafts had set 90 days of early access.
- By Alexandra Kelley and David DiMolfetta
Exclusive
Contracts
GSA is preparing an AI-specific acquisition reform rule
The updated rule is expected in the next couple weeks and will set a preference for fixed-price models, making the GSA a “more predictable business partner” to original equipment manufacturers.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Companies
Commerce commits to funding incentives with 9 companies to spur quantum development
The letters of intent provide over $2 billion in funding from the CHIPS and Science Act to spur research and development in fault-tolerant quantum computing.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Companies
NIST aims for summer release of AI cyber guidelines
Draft iterations of cybersecurity guidance for AI-driven threats across different types of emerging systems are in development as the federal government wades into AI model risk assessments.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Contracts
Pentagon will ‘never again’ rely on a single AI provider, official says
Defense Under Secretary for Research and Engineering Emil Michael said new agreements with Big Tech companies are a “counterstatement” to the ongoing Anthropic-Pentagon conflict as the agency prioritizes flexible contracts.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Exclusive
Companies
Trump admin floats policy language limiting contractor say on agency uses of technology
Ongoing drafts of policy documents feature language that would limit the private sector’s ability to dictate how their artificial intelligence models are used in government missions, according to sources familiar with their development.
- By Alexandra Kelley and David DiMolfetta
Contracts
Pentagon makes agreements with 8 companies to add AI to classified networks
Advanced capabilities from NVIDIA, OpenAI, SpaceX, Reflection, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Oracle and Google will be made available at the Pentagon's Impact Levels 6 and 7.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Companies
OpenAI announces availability across cloud providers
The artificial intelligence developer updated its terms and conditions with Microsoft, announcing that its suite of agentic capabilities would now be available via other cloud providers.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Companies
World needs to ‘get ready’ for more powerful AI, Anthropic co-founder says
The company’s powerful Mythos, unveiled earlier this month, won’t be the only supercharged AI system to hit the market, Jack Clark said.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Companies
Tech bills of the week: Boosting export controls; AI-focused workforce development; and more
During Congress’s final week in recess, new legislation and amendments that were proposed run the tech policy gamut.
- By Alexandra Kelley and Edward Graham
Contracts
Trump’s FY27 budget proposes boosts and cuts to tech operations
Agencies like CISA, NIST and the IRS would see notable reductions in their budgets for next year, while programs at Energy and the VA would get additional financial support.
- By Alexandra Kelley, Edward Graham and David DiMolfetta
Companies
Vendors struggle to navigate the Anthropic ban’s fallout
Tech contractors say ambiguity in how Anthropic’s products are able to be used by companies working with the federal government is leaving “traps” they may unknowingly fall into.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Contracts
VA’s former EHR lead indicted for concealing contractor gifts
The Department of Justice alleges that John Windom accepted and sometimes demanded various gifts while helming the electronic health record modernization at Veterans Affairs.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Companies
Trump names CEOs, nuclear fusion founders and Nobel laureate to tech advisory council
The announcement includes 13 of the possible 24 members that will make up the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Contracts
White House releases regulatory vision for AI
The framework includes seven AI policy recommendations for Congress that attempt to balance consumer protections with advancing AI development.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Contracts
GSA, NIST partner to craft evaluation standards for AI tools in federal operations
Through the Center for AI Standards and Innovation, both agencies will help streamline the process to develop standards for artificial intelligence tools being used in government workflows.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Companies
Siemens joins Genesis Mission
The infrastructure technology company is the latest to jump on the Genesis Mission.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Companies
Anthropic sues over a dozen federal agencies and government leaders
The company asserts that the administration’s actions to designate Anthropic as a supply chain risk and order its removal from all federal agencies are retaliatory and not based on risk to national security.
- By Alexandra Kelley
Podcasts
WT 360: Nextgov/FCW’s Alexandra Kelley on the government’s breakup with Anthropic
Alexandra Kelley, our Nextgov/FCW colleague who covers emerging tech, jumps in to explain how agencies are phasing out Anthropic’s artificial intelligence tools amid the company’s disagreement with the Pentagon on usage of them.
- By Alexandra Kelley and Ross Wilkers