TLDR: A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report reveals a dramatic increase in generative AI use across federal agencies, with a ninefold jump in reported use cases from 2023 to 2024 among a selection of nearly a dozen agencies. The technology is primarily being leveraged for internal operations, improving communication, information access, and program tracking.
Federal agencies are rapidly integrating generative artificial intelligence (AI) into their operations, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published on July 29, 2025. The congressional watchdog’s analysis of 11 federal agencies’ inventories found a significant escalation in generative AI use cases, soaring from 32 in 2023 to 282 in 2024 – a nearly ninefold increase. This surge highlights a growing reliance on the emerging technology to enhance mission effectiveness.
The GAO’s findings indicate that agencies are primarily deploying generative AI for internal operational improvements, including streamlining workflows, enhancing written communications, improving information access efficiency, and optimizing program status tracking. Specific examples cited in the report include the Department of Veterans Affairs utilizing automation for medical imaging processing in veterans’ diagnostic services, and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) employing the technology to extract critical information from publications related to poliovirus containment.
HHS reported the most substantial increase among the surveyed agencies, with its generative AI use cases jumping from seven in 2023 to 116 in 2024. The Department of Homeland Security followed with the second-largest uptick, rising from five to 36 uses within the same period. Even agencies that reported minimal or no use cases in 2023 demonstrated significant adoption the following year; for instance, the VA, State Department, and Commerce Department each saw their use cases increase from one in 2023 to 27, 18, and 17, respectively.
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Beyond internal operations, the GAO noted that agencies are also exploring or already integrating generative AI into public-facing government services, such as chatbots and virtual assistants. Furthermore, agencies in the health and medical sectors are leveraging generative AI for research and analysis of complex medical data. This rapid adoption underscores the federal government’s increasing embrace of AI to deliver more responsive and efficient public services.
