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Inside the Business of GovernmentAuthor: Baroni Center for Government Contracting
Discover the business behind government. The Greg and Camille Baroni Podcast Series Inside the Business of Government offers a front-row seat to the federal acquisition system and the leaders driving it forward. Hosted by Mike Derrios and presented by the Baroni Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University's Costello College of Business, the podcast features insightful conversations with experts exploring the policies, decisions, and innovations shaping the future of government contracting. Language: en Genres: Business, Government Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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The Future of AI in Federal Acquisition with Ben Allen
Episode 8
Monday, 2 November, 2026
In this episode, Mike Derrios sits down with Ben Allen of Appian to explore the future of AI in federal acquisition. Their conversation covers governed autonomy, AI-assisted procurement, workforce transformation, data challenges, source selection, contracting models for AI solutions, and how agencies can responsibly adopt automation while maintaining accountability. "Use AI where AI is needed. If something is deterministic, use rules instead." Drawing on analogies from autonomous vehicles and aviation safety, Ben shares practical insights on balancing innovation with oversight and explains how AI can become a trusted "coworker" rather than a replacement for acquisition professionals. AI adoption should be guided by risk, not hype. Human accountability remains essential for acquisition decisions. Rules-based automation should be used before applying AI to deterministic tasks. Strong governance requires multiple layers of safeguards. Data portability and model flexibility are foundational requirements for AI procurement. The future acquisition workforce will need stronger analytical and advisory skills. Successful AI adoption depends as much on people and change management as technology.
