Week 1: Introducing your briefing on AI, power, and progress in the nation's capital
State-level AI regulation, Microsoft and AWS upcoming DC events, the Kennedy Center, and more.
Welcome to the latest “DC Decoded” series: news roundups! Every week on Tuesday morning, you can expect to get a curated list of stories happening across policy, business, and culture…all about AI in DC. Plus, the latest GenAI DC content and upcoming events!
Brought to you by Sam Li, Creative Director of the GenAI DC chapter.
Have a good story for next week’s edition? Send Sam a message below.
🔔White House issues new AI guidance for federal agencies
On April 3, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released two significant memoranda aimed at accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence within federal agencies:
M-25-21, “Accelerating federal use of AI through innovation, governance, and public trust”: Outlines strategies to enhance AI innovation while ensuring governance and public trust
M-25-22, “Driving efficient acquisition of artificial intelligence in government”: Focuses on streamlining the procurement processes for AI technologies
📃Policy
How to best govern AI
This article by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) examines the growing network of AI legislation across the country. It provides important context about the most active state regulations and their implications for potential federal legislation.
California moves to regulate AI (even more!)
While federal lawmakers continue to figure out what AI legislation they want to pursue, California’s lawmakers are surging forward with 30 bills to regulate how AI impacts society. It adds pressure on Congress in DC to act federally—or risk a continuing patchwork of state-level AI regulation.
⚡️Startup spotlight
Aymara develops tools to mitigate biases in large language models
The company develops safety tools designed to mitigate biases in large language models. It’s platform aims to enhance the fairness and reliability of AI systems, addressing a critical challenge in the deployment of AI technologies.
Be on the lookout for my conversation with Aymara co-founder, Juan Manuel Contreras, in the coming weeks!
💸Big business
Microsoft to host AI policy event — Thursday, April 10th, 9 am - 10:30 am ET
Microsoft’s Innovation & Policy Center is set to host the DC launch of the 2025 Stanford AI Index. The event, in collaboration with Stanford’s Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI) and LinkedIn, aims to provide insights into the current state of AI and implications for the workforce, fostering dialogue among policymakers, industry leaders, and academics.
AWS Summit in Washington, DC — Tuesday, June 10th to Wednesday, June 11th
Tailored to the public sector community, this no cost event will have attendees “engage in interactive learning, network among public sector industry leaders and AWS experts, engage with partners driving innovation, and so much more.”
🌹Culture
AI and the Arts take center stage at the Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center is hosting EARTH to SPACE: Arts breaking the sky, a festival running until April 20. This multidisciplinary event features new commissions, performances, immersive exhibits, and panel discussions exploring the intersection of art and space exploration.
🎙️Podcast
Latest episode:
Ep 4: AI trust and safety with Erica Shoemate
AI policy expert Erica Shoemate joins the show to discuss: (1) AI’s role in national security and responsible governance (2) her experience at major tech companies and lessons in AI governance (3) the unique aspects of AI policy work in DC, and much more!
Latest event recap:
Recap 1: AI soirée — dystopia or utopia?
In our first-ever Substack live, GenAI DC chapter Operations lead Anna D’Aprile joins DC chapter Creative Director and host of DC Decoded, Sam Li to recap the chapter’s most recent event: AI soirée — dystopia or utopia?
🚨Upcoming GenAI DC events
Notion AI: template workshop | Saturday, April 12
AI Insiders Roundtable | Wednesday, April 16
Be on the lookout for an upcoming Notion x GenAI DC series of events!
That’s it for this week’s edition — we will see you next week!
-Sam