DHS Watchdog Investigating TSA's Use of Facial Recognition

by  Edward Graham

The review comes after a bipartisan group of senators previously called for the watchdog to look into TSA's use of biometric tools “from both an authorities and privacy perspective.”

The Department of Homeland Security's top watchdog is investigating the growing use of facial recognition technology in the security screening process at U.S. airports, a Democratic lawmaker announced on Friday.

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and a bipartisan group of senators previously sent a letter to DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari in November calling for a thorough review of the Transportation Security Administration's deployment of biometric technologies to verify travelers' identities “from both an authorities and privacy perspective.”

That request was signed by a total of 12 senators, including seven Democrats and five Republicans.

 Read full story at Route-Fifty…

How the CEOs of Booz Allen, L3Harris View DOGE's Vision

by  Ross Wilkers

In talking with investors, both chief executives highlight speed and help to the customer as big-picture goals they want to see the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency realize.

The early 2010s period of across-the-board sequestration cuts was intended to force a budget agreement in Congress and resulted in downward pressure on the government services industry when no deal emerged.

During Booz Allen's fiscal third quarter earnings call, CEO Horacio Rozanski said he views the DOGE and its push for change through a completely different lens versus sequestration.

“If I listen to the conversation that is happening around DOGE, this is about creating efficiencies and then deciding how that is going to be invested for the American people,” Rozanski told analysts. “Our expectation is that a lot of what is going to be created in the form of efficiencies will be reinvested as investments in technology that will drive future outcomes.” A second major point of difference between sequestration and the DOGE is the length of time for actions and seeing the downstream effects of them.

 Read full story at Washington Technology…

Navy Ops Centers Need AI to Sift Through Troves of Intel Data

by  Lauren C. Williams

As ships collect ever more sensor data, Navy information warfare officers have to figure out how to quickly process information without getting bogged down.

Future naval battles could hinge on how quickly information warfare officers analyze and send information from maritime operations centers to the fleet, the chief of the U.S. Navy has said. And while AI can help with that, there are some caveats, said a top naval intelligence official.

“I really do think there's opportunity space here with AI, but AI has the challenges of the data source has to be trusted and curated. And so there's clearly a lot of work going on in AI, in the world of [intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance], in the world of PED, but we''e working through that still,” Vice Adm. Karl Thomas, deputy chief of naval operations for information warfare and director of naval intelligence, said Wednesday during a presentation at WEST 2025.

 Read full story at NextGov/FCW…

AI How-To: 10 Prompts to Try With ChatGPT or Your Favorite Bot

by  Kim Komando

Twenty-five-odd years ago, CBS and ABC execs told me [Kim Komando] tech was just a fad and passed on my national radio show. So, I syndicated it myself. The rest is history.

Now, I hear the same thing about AI: It's a phase, and it won' last. Hate to break it to you, but AI is here to stay, and it's already changing everything. Start using it now or risk getting left behind.

So, what chatbot should you use? There are so many options, but OpenAI's ChatGPT is the most reliable I've found. I pay $20 a month for Pro, but a free account is fine for most folks. (Call me, Sam Altman. I'd love a freebie.)

If you want to use Chinese-built DeepSeek's snazzy new R1 model, try it through Perplexity. It's hosted in the U.S. and doesn't have all the Communist China guardrails you find on the DeepSeek site.

The big caveat: You only get five free R1 searches per day. For unlimited, upgrade to Perplexity Pro for $20. Or use it for free and you'll just get answers from a different AI model.

Now, what should you ask? The world is your oyster.

10 prompts to save and try later

 Read full story at Komando.com…

Dell Risks Employee Retention by Forcing All Teams Back Into Offices Full-Time

by  Scharon Harding

Dell is calling much of its workforce back into the office five days a week starting on March 3. The technology giant is framing the mandate as a business strategy, but there's reason to believe the policy may drive employee turnover.

Business Insider detailed an internal memo today from CEO and Chairman Michael Dell informing workers that if they live within an hour of a Dell office, they'll have to go in five days a week.

“What we're finding is that for all the technology in the world, nothing is faster than the speed of human interaction,” Dell wrote, per Business Insider. “A thirty-second conversation can replace an email back-and-forth that goes on for hours or even days.”

 Read full story at arsTechnica…

Microsoft Creates a New Department to Review How AI Affects Society

by  Mikael Markander

Among other things, the Advanced Planning Unit will make recommendations about which products are worth investing in.

As part of Microsoft's big push into AI services, the company has created a new department called the Advanced Planning Unit (APU). Employees of the APU will, among other things, study the effects of AI on society and make recommendations about which products are worth investing resources in.

According to Silicon Angle, Microsoft is now looking for technologists, economists and psychologists who can contribute with their expertise.

Microsoft just last week created another AI department called Core AI — Platform and Tools. Its focus is on developing technical solutions for products such as Github Copilot.

 Read full story at Computerworld…

California Public Utilities Commission Updates Electric Utility Transmission Siting Regulations

by  Electric Utility Operations

The new electric transmission process adjustments under General Order (GO) 131-D, are part of the CPUC's process to implement Senate Bill 529, which requires reforms to the permitting, approval, and construction processes for electric transmission projects.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has updated its electric utility transmission siting regulations to modernize and accelerate planning, permission, and building of transmission infrastructure for addressing electricity reliability and meet the state's clean energy goals.

The new electric transmission process adjustments under General Order (GO) 131-D (now updated to GO 131-E), are part of the CPUC's process to implement Senate Bill (SB) 529 (Hertzberg, 2022), which requires reforms to the permitting, approval, and construction processes for electric transmission projects.

“These changes will accelerate permitting timelines by reducing redundancy and shifting environmental analysis earlier in the application process,” said Commissioner Karen Douglas, who is assigned to the proceeding. “This modernization of the CPUC's approach to permitting is an important step in preparing the CPUC to address the scale of grid upgrades that will be needed to maintain a reliable electricity system over time and meet the state's climate goals.”

 Read full story at T&D World…

Georgia Utility Projects 'Extraordinary' Load Growth in Plan to Satisfy Data Centres

by  Smart Energy International Staff

Georgia Power has filed its 2025 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) with the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC), a roadmap for how the utility intends to meet the energy needs of its customers while supporting the state's “extraordinary” load growth.

Over the next six years, Georgia Power projects approximately 8,200MW of electrical load growth — an increase of more than 2,200MW by the end of 2030 compared to projections in the 2023 IRP Update. The filing, which proposes investments in Georgia Power's generation fleet and transmission system, builds upon its previous IRPs and the 2023 IRP Update, which was approved by the Georgia PSC in April 2024.

“At Georgia Power, our vision extends far beyond today — we plan for tomorrow, the next ten years and decades to come,” said Kim Greene, chairman, president, and CEO of Georgia Power. “As Georgia continues to grow, this state is well-positioned for the future thanks to proactive planning, policies, and processes like the Integrated Resource Plan. The 2025 IRP provides a comprehensive plan to support Georgia' continued economic growth and serve Georgians with clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy well into the future.”

 Read full story at Smart Energy International…

Where Trump Officials Stand on Renewable Natural Gas

by  Jacob Wallace

Newly confirmed agency heads like Energy Secretary Chris Wright have committed to working with Congress on biofuels, though some supportive federal programs may be at risk.

A new administration brings new officials in charge of federal policies affecting the biofuels space, and early signs point to a mostly positive environment for the industry.

U.S. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin was asked during his confirmation hearing if he would set timely renewable volume obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard, the policy controlling federal incentives for renewable natural gas. Zeldin said he would, and also said he would be open to conversations about favorable policies for developing sustainable aviation fuels as well, Biomass Magazine first reported.

 Read full story at Utility Dive…