​​AI-Driven Acquisition: Keeping Humans at the Center​

​​AI-Driven Acquisition: Keeping Humans at the Center​

Author: Government Technology Insider June 29, 2026 Duration: 14:00

With accelerating technology refresh cycles, evolving policy expectations, and the pressure to reduce waste and fraud while delivering mission outcomes faster, are transforming government acquisition from a transactional procurement function to a strategic capability.

AI-driven acquisition offers agencies a way to address these pressures. Agencies are beginning to integrate AI directly into acquisition systems to streamline the requirements development process, automate research, and reduce administrative burden. These tools can help accelerate timelines and improve efficiency. However, agencies must also support common-sense workforce adoption to keep humans in the loop and avoid the risks of “cognitive surrender,” where users put too much trust into AI-generated outputs.

Ben Allen, Vice President of Public Sector Solutions at Appian, joins our host, Lucas Hunsicker, in this episode of the Government Technology Insider podcast to talk about how acquisition modernization is evolving. They explore how the future of AI-enabled acquisition relies on embedding intelligent capabilities into procurement workflows in a way that keeps humans actively involved rather than replacing them.


Ever wonder what really happens when a new software platform gets rolled out across a state agency, or how a city decides which cloud provider to trust with its data? The Government Technology Insider Podcast pulls back the curtain on those exact processes. This isn't about theoretical futures; it's a grounded look at the actual work of modernizing public sector systems. Each conversation goes straight to the source, featuring the people who are navigating procurement, implementing security protocols, and managing the day-to-day realities of tech adoption within government frameworks. You'll hear firsthand accounts about the strategic choices that succeed, the unexpected hurdles that arise, and the practical solutions that make a difference. The discussions are candid and detailed, focusing less on hype and more on the tangible lessons learned from recent projects and initiatives. For anyone curious about the real intersection of civic duty and digital innovation, this podcast provides an essential, on-the-ground perspective. Tune in for a clear-eyed view of how technology is being woven into the fabric of government missions, one challenge and one victory at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Government Technology Insider Podcast
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