AI-in-Gov Inside the Black Box

Building What Matters: Scaling AI with Mission in Mind

In this episode of AI-in-Gov: Inside the Black Box, hosts Richard Jacik and Dr. Amarda Shehu speak with Deneen Williams, CEO of Priwils, about her journey from studying management science to leading a technology firm supporting federal agencies. They discuss how organizations can successfully introduce and scale AI in government by focusing on mission-driven use cases, starting with small pilots, and prioritizing workforce training and adoption. The conversation also explores the importance of critical thinking in an AI-enabled world, the role of industry and universities in preparing the next generation of technologists, and how emerging AI tools are changing the way teams analyze data, develop solutions, and support government missions.
To connect with Deneen, follow her on LinkedIn here.
Connect with host Amarda Shehu on LinkedIn here.Connect with host Richard Jacik on LinkedIn here.For more information about the GMU AI-in-Gov Council, follow them on LinkedIn here.
This episode is sponsored by Mathsolutely.

From Missiles to Math: Engineering AI for High-Stakes Decisions

Matt Fisher, Vice President of Engineering at CoAspire and co-founder of Mathsolutely, joins Richard Jacik and Amarda Shehu for a wide-ranging conversation on deploying AI in environments where failure isn’t an option. From designing affordable, modular missile systems with strict safety and explainability requirements to building AI-augmented SAT math prep tools with robust guardrails, Fisher shares how engineering discipline, reuse, and careful oversight make high-stakes AI possible. The episode explores autonomy, government approval hurdles, model selection, and the future of AI in both defense and education—proving that whether the mission is hitting a target or raising a test score, responsible engineering makes all the difference.
To connect with Matt, follow him on LinkedIn here.
Connect with host Amarda Shehu on LinkedIn here.Connect with host Richard Jacik on LinkedIn here.For more information about the GMU AI-in-Gov Council, follow them on LinkedIn here.
This episode is sponsored by Solution Street.

How Human Is Too Human? Robots, Trust, and Emotional Manipulation

Welcome to AI in Gov: Inside the Black Box. This podcast series explores the transformative role of artificial intelligence in government, with a focus on innovation, collaboration, and impact.
Dr. Elizabeth Phillips returns to AI-in-Gov: Inside the Black Box to join Richard Jacik and Amarda Shehu for a wide-ranging conversation on what happens when AI and robots start to look—and feel—more human. Drawing on her research at the intersection of human factors, robotics, and psychology, Phillips explores how anthropomorphic design shapes trust, emotional attachment, and perception, and why those same qualities can lead to manipulation, over-reliance, and ethical risk. From bonded relationships with robots to the dangers of embodied hallucinations, this episode digs into where human-centered design helps—and where it may go too far.
To connect with Beth, follow her on LinkedIn here.
Connect with host Amarda Shehu on LinkedIn here.Connect with host Richard Jacik on LinkedIn here.For more information about the GMU AI-in-Gov Council, follow them on LinkedIn here.
This episode is sponsored by Alapient.
 

Security, Trust, and the AI Arms Race in Education – Part 2

Welcome to AI in Gov: Inside the Black Box. This podcast series explores the transformative role of artificial intelligence in government, with a focus on innovation, collaboration, and impact.
In this episode of AI-in-Gov: Inside the Black Box, Richard Jacik and Amarda Shehu are joined by VJ Rao of Fairfax County Public Schools to explore how AI is reshaping safety, security, and trust in education. From real-world K–12 threat assessments and cyber investigations to privacy tradeoffs, misinformation, and AI being used on both sides of the threat equation, the conversation examines why cyber and physical security are now inseparable—and why humans must remain firmly in the loop.
To connect with VJ Rao, follow him on LinkedIn here.
Connect with host Amarda Shehu on LinkedIn here.Connect with host Richard Jacik on LinkedIn here.For more information about the GMU AI-in-Gov Council, follow them on LinkedIn here.

Security, Trust, and the AI Arms Race in Education – Part 1

Welcome to AI in Gov: Inside the Black Box. This podcast series explores the transformative role of artificial intelligence in government, with a focus on innovation, collaboration, and impact.
In this episode of AI-in-Gov: Inside the Black Box, Richard Jacik and Amarda Shehu are joined by VJ Rao of Fairfax County Public Schools to explore how AI is reshaping safety, security, and trust in education. From real-world K–12 threat assessments and cyber investigations to privacy tradeoffs, misinformation, and AI being used on both sides of the threat equation, the conversation examines why cyber and physical security are now inseparable—and why humans must remain firmly in the loop.
To connect with VJ Rao, follow him on LinkedIn here.
Connect with host Amarda Shehu on LinkedIn here.Connect with host Richard Jacik on LinkedIn here.For more information about the GMU AI-in-Gov Council, follow them on LinkedIn here.
This episode is sponsored by Brillient.

People, Place, and Power: Confronting Bias in AI Systems

Welcome to AI in Gov: Inside the Black Box. This podcast series explores the transformative role of artificial intelligence in government, with a focus on innovation, collaboration, and impact.
In this episode of AI-in-Gov: Inside the Black Box, hosts Richard Jacik and Amarda Shehu are joined by Dr. Rashawn Ray, Vice President at the American Institutes for Research, to examine how bias and inequality can be embedded—and amplified—by AI systems. Drawing on real-world examples from law enforcement training, hiring technologies, education, and generative AI, the conversation explores why AI often mirrors existing societal power structures, why simply instructing systems “not to be biased” is insufficient, and how thoughtful design, evaluation, and guardrails can help mitigate harm. The episode highlights the importance of considering people and place in AI development and underscores the shared responsibility of government, industry, and academia to ensure AI serves the public good rather than deepening existing inequities.
To connect with Dr. Rashawn Ray, follow him on LinkedIn here.
Connect with host Amarda Shehu on LinkedIn here.Connect with host Richard Jacik on LinkedIn here.For more information about the GMU AI-in-Gov Council, follow them on LinkedIn here.
This episode is sponsored by Moara.io.

Beyond the Reading List: AI, Policy, and Explainability in Government

In this episode of AI-in-Gov: Inside the Black Box, hosts Amarda Shehu and Richard Jacik sit down with Rich Heimann, South Carolina’s inaugural Director of AI and author of a forthcoming book inspired by Ilya Sutskever’s legendary reading list, to explore the realities of building and governing AI at state scale. Heimann traces his path from DARPA and computational social science to leading one of the nation’s emerging statewide AI programs, breaking down how agencies evaluate use cases, measure risk, and wrestle with explainability in an era of increasingly opaque models.
To connect with Rich, follow him on LinkedIn here.
Connect with host Amarda Shehu on LinkedIn here.Connect with host Richard Jacik on LinkedIn here.For more information about the GMU AI-in-Gov Council, follow them on LinkedIn here.
This episode is sponsored by Solution Street.
 

Teaching Machines Morals: Psychology Meets AI

Welcome to AI in Gov: Inside the Black Box. This podcast series explores the transformative role of artificial intelligence in government, with a focus on innovation, collaboration, and impact.
In this episode of AI-in-Gov: Inside the Black Box, hosts Amarda Shehu and Richard Jacik sit down with Dr. Elizabeth “Beth” Phillips of George Mason University to explore how psychology and human factors shape the development of AI and autonomous systems. They discuss Beth’s research on human-machine interaction, diving into why human-likeness affects trust, discomfort, and the multiple “uncanny valleys” that can emerge. With insight and humor, the conversation also examines emerging challenges around machine morality, norm learning, agency, and explainable AI—topics with significant implications for government and defense.
To connect with Beth, follow her on LinkedIn ⁠here⁠.
Connect with host Amarda Shehu on LinkedIn ⁠here⁠. Connect with host Richard Jacik on LinkedIn ⁠here⁠. For more information about the GMU AI-in-Gov Council, follow them on LinkedIn ⁠here⁠.
This episode is sponsored by ⁠Alapient⁠. 

Lessons from the Frontlines of GovCon Innovation

In this episode of AI-in-Gov: Inside the Black Box, hosts Amarda Shehu and Richard Jacik sit down with David Blackburn, founder and CEO of OrangeSlices.ai, to explore how AI, open data, and human expertise are reshaping the government contracting landscape. From navigating misinformation to building trust and transparency, Blackburn shares how his team curates reliable intelligence for the GovCon community and why success often depends as much on business models as on technology. Tune in for candid insights, a few laughs, and an honest look at what’s working—and what’s not—on the frontlines of AI-driven innovation in government.
To connect with David, follow him on LinkedIn here.
Connect with host Amarda Shehu on LinkedIn here.Connect with host Richard Jacik on LinkedIn here.For more information about the GMU AI-in-Gov Council, follow them on LinkedIn here.
This episode is sponsored by Moara.io.

Inside Responsible AI: Ethics at the Speed of Innovation

Welcome to AI in Gov: Inside the Black Box. This podcast series explores the transformative role of artificial intelligence in government, with a focus on innovation, collaboration, and impact.
In this episode of AI in Gov: Inside the Black Box, hosts Amarda Shehu and Richard Jacik sit down with Jesse Kirkpatrick, Research Associate Professor and Co-Director of the Mason Autonomy and Robotics Center, to explore what it really means to build responsible AI in a world moving at the speed of innovation. From the shifting federal landscape around AI safety and national security to the philosophical and practical challenges of aligning machines with human values, Kirkpatrick offers a candid look at the tensions between ethics, autonomy, and rapid deployment.
To connect with Jesse, follow him on LinkedIn here.
Connect with host Amarda Shehu on LinkedIn here.Connect with host Richard Jacik on LinkedIn here.For more information about the GMU AI-in-Gov Council, follow them on LinkedIn here.
This episode is sponsored by Brilllient.