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ai.gov

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Re: AI.gov

#141

Post by mortallywounded »

davisr wrote: post #118
jjcm wrote: post #94

The Presidential Innovation Fellow is the highest level role they're offering as part of this. For this, the requirements are "mid-senior/executive career professional experience in a subject matter expertise" with "experience collaborating with and leading cross-functional teams". The requirements feel analogous to a staff/principal level role in the software industry, so just for comparison here's the compensation…

Why did you assume that everyone is motivated by money? After $100k, what difference does it make for one's happiness? Personally, I wouldn't want such a shallow individual working in my government.

That's something someone would say that has never made 500k before :)

Re: AI.gov

#142

Post by [deleted] »

Racing0461 wrote: post #82
RIMR wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know everyone has already figured out what you're trying to say, but for clarity, do you mind elaborating on what you meant here?

Why add a section on immigration? The stuff on the page is already known. They just add it to cross off a checkbox of what they wanted to signal. And its just a generic description of the visas and nothing localized to th visa type and ai. And for the other commenters calling me "right wing', my views are pretty much '04 Obama. It's just telling how far off the rails we have gone.

[deleted]

Re: AI.gov

#143

Post by nonrandomstring »

nightpool wrote: post #116
nonrandomstring wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sadly our track record on IT is disgraceful, yes. Billion pound IT black holes are strewn across health, education, defence.... It's a legacy of cronyism and corruption from the incumbent Tory "government". Consider Sunak's connections. OTOH our Civil Service remains a beacon of competence in a sea of insane policies, reshuffles, resignations, criminal scandals and total absenteeism. It runs on "values", plus a bit o…

Which parts of the UK Civil Service would you say are more competent / effective in your personal experience? From the outside (US) perspective it's hard to see it as anything except the same-old bureaucracy and crazy rules that make it impossible to have any positive impact in America. (For example, the UK rules for getting a passport basically make it impossible to find somebody to countersign your application unle…

That's a good question, because I'm speaking now as a regular citizen, civilian, and discounting any "professional" contact I have with government. A lot of it is feel, and also by comparison to how _bad_ it once was, and the kind of thing I've experienced in mainland Europe.

In Britain the cs are basically providing long-term continuity regardless of how chaotic and volatile party politics becomes. What we see is that most of the machinery of state keeps working, despite the circus in the Commons. Despite Covid. Despite Brexit. So, without subscribing to an anarchic take, we somehow concede that somebody, somewhere, must be doing some work :)

Most people's contact is through online, if you can fire up even the most basic browser almost every interaction is clear, fast and smooth.

When you start dealing at a higher level (business and contracting) then you see behind the Wizard of Oz's curtain a bit. Things go more smoothly if you have the right documents and history. Isn't that the same in every country though?

So, it serves regular citizens very well, but less considerately as your needs are more complex. Effective maybe, but I didn't say "fair" :) Certainly there must be many people find it harder, and I'm probably showing my privilege.

Re: AI.gov

#144

Post by nmca »

nightpool wrote: post #116
nonrandomstring wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sadly our track record on IT is disgraceful, yes. Billion pound IT black holes are strewn across health, education, defence.... It's a legacy of cronyism and corruption from the incumbent Tory "government". Consider Sunak's connections. OTOH our Civil Service remains a beacon of competence in a sea of insane policies, reshuffles, resignations, criminal scandals and total absenteeism. It runs on "values", plus a bit o…

Which parts of the UK Civil Service would you say are more competent / effective in your personal experience? From the outside (US) perspective it's hard to see it as anything except the same-old bureaucracy and crazy rules that make it impossible to have any positive impact in America. (For example, the UK rules for getting a passport basically make it impossible to find somebody to countersign your application unle…

GDS - government digital services - always seems shockingly sane, a d it shows in lots of online forms etc.

Re: AI.gov

#145

Post by pdabbadabba »

davisr wrote: post #118
jjcm wrote: post #94

The Presidential Innovation Fellow is the highest level role they're offering as part of this. For this, the requirements are "mid-senior/executive career professional experience in a subject matter expertise" with "experience collaborating with and leading cross-functional teams". The requirements feel analogous to a staff/principal level role in the software industry, so just for comparison here's the compensation…

Why did you assume that everyone is motivated by money? After $100k, what difference does it make for one's happiness? Personally, I wouldn't want such a shallow individual working in my government.

Depends on where they're living, I guess. But in DC, additional income above $100k would make a huge difference in quality of life.

Re: AI.gov

#146

Post by antisthenes »

davisr wrote: post #118
jjcm wrote: post #94

The Presidential Innovation Fellow is the highest level role they're offering as part of this. For this, the requirements are "mid-senior/executive career professional experience in a subject matter expertise" with "experience collaborating with and leading cross-functional teams". The requirements feel analogous to a staff/principal level role in the software industry, so just for comparison here's the compensation…

Why did you assume that everyone is motivated by money? After $100k, what difference does it make for one's happiness? Personally, I wouldn't want such a shallow individual working in my government.

A lot, actually. In a country like USA, you can get slapped with $100k worth of medical bills, and keep fighting them for years.

If you said $100k and a safety net (that actually works), I would agree with you.

Re: AI.gov

#147

Post by nmca »

jjcm wrote: post #94

The Presidential Innovation Fellow is the highest level role they're offering as part of this. For this, the requirements are "mid-senior/executive career professional experience in a subject matter expertise" with "experience collaborating with and leading cross-functional teams". The requirements feel analogous to a staff/principal level role in the software industry, so just for comparison here's the compensation…

if the position was high-status enough they might be able to hire someone post-economic

Re: AI.gov

#148

Post by forthwall »

I would really love to work for the USDS; ever since their big publicity outreach during the obama admin, too bad the salaries are abysmal comparably to most tech companies. 184k top band in san francisco; 150k in DC. I could join a mid tier firm in SF for 250k base; not even bonus for a senior level. I wish they could create a special schedule.

Re: AI.gov

#149

Post by wslack »

claytongulick wrote: post #120
aduffy wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Recoding America[1] is an excellent book about this problem, but it extends a lot further than just contractors charging inflated rates. The government itself has a culture that is so averse to trying new things and compliance with existing policy that it's actually dangerous to the careers of civil servants to do anything innovative, because that is one of the only things they can actually be fired for. The solution…

I was recruited by, and damn near did a tour with USDS. I ended up passing on it. They wanted an "entrepreneur in residence" to help drive change, which sounded great to me. Then they did the whole "we need you to keep in a cup" thing. I wouldn't have had any problem passing the test, but I told the recruiter "this is where the change needs to start". There's no way I can attract and retain good technical talent if w…

Current USDSer here posting personally. I hear this and you aren't alone. It's not a decision specifically about USDS, more about the entire White House staff and federal law.

Re: AI.gov

#150

Post by curiousllama »

Lots of folks commenting about salary but that's not even the biggest drawback here. Org instability is.

The presidential innovation fellows are 1-year stints, and after the next election, there might not be a next role. Maybe a campaign? Maybe a consulting firm? Unclear.

Even if the parties don't flip - senior leaders churn through fast.

I love this attempt, but I can't imagine trying to be a mid-senior tech leader in an organization where, in 18 months, the next guy might be trying to actively tear down your work.

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