As the saying goes, "Necessity is the mother of invention," and we are no exception when it comes to preparation, adapting, and transformation!

In 2023, we leveraged our years of experience in policy research, software development, and data science to create new solutions using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. We hosted a series of public webinars where we invited members of academia, industry, and the federal government. We shared our insights and best practices on leveraging AI's power to generate trustworthy and customized content to enhance citizen engagement and their experience.

During these public webinars, we demonstrated our newest AI solutions, such as OptiBot, AcquisitionAI, and CommentsAI. To learn more, view the recordings on our website.

Optimal presented its research and data science innovations at several research conferences, including "Examining Academic Equity Amidst the Pandemic: An Analysis of NAEP State Results" at the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) STATS DC Data Conference and "Collecting COVID-19 Mask Mandate Information Using Artificial Intelligence to Contextualize 2022 NAEP Result" at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting. 

Another highlight of the year was our participation in several public sector innovation and data science conferences. We led in the presentation of innovative products and services at the Federal Committee on Statistical Methodology (FCSM) conference, the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) Government Contract Management Symposium (GCMS), and the Interagency Accessibility Form (IAAF) conference. At each conference, we showcased how our AI solutions can help address some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities in the public sector, such as data quality, accessibility, and acquisition. Some of our presentations included:

Upcoming Digital Modernization Webinars

Federal agencies seeking supplemental funding can apply for the Technology Modernization Fund under 21st Century IDEA.

Agencies can apply here.