Artificial Intelligence Strategy
Artificial Intelligence Strategy v3
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Artificial Intelligence Strategy outlines a comprehensive framework to integrate AI across health care, human services, and agency operations. It establishes a OneHHS approach built around five core pillars: governance and risk management, shared infrastructure, workforce upending and training, gold-standard scientific research, and modernization of health delivery. The strategy provides clear goals, preliminary maturity assessments, and metrics to ensure public trust, data security, and improved health outcomes.
Summary and content fields are drawn from the document text and are pending editorial review.
Who issued it
Who it governs
This strategy is for HHS staff, leaders, researchers, and partners looking to understand the Department's roadmap for deploying and governing AI responsibly.
What the document contains
The document addresses the internal maturity assessment of agency AI use cases, the establishment of a shared OneHHS AI infrastructure commons, workforce training and burden reduction, principles for reproducibility in health research, and modernization of health and public health care delivery.
The document does not provide binding statutory regulations or legally binding mandates for private sector healthcare providers outside of HHS vendor procurement requirements.
- HHS is implementing a unified 'OneHHS' approach to accelerate AI innovation across all component divisions.
- The strategy is organized into five key pillars focusing on governance, user-centric infrastructure, workforce training, gold-standard scientific research, and care modernization.
- The Department utilizes NIST AI frameworks and OMB guidance to manage high-impact AI risks and maintain public trust.
- HHS aims to build an AI-ready workforce by providing role-based training programs, secure AI tools, and specialized support.
- The strategy emphasizes FAIR data sharing principles, open standards, and robust reproducibility in health research.
· Introductory Letter from the Deputy Secretary · Introductory Letter from the HHS Chief AI Officer · Executive Summary · Section 1: Introduction, Purpose, and Guiding Principle · Section 2: HHS AI Maturity — Preliminary Assessment · Section 3: HHS AI Pillars · Section 4: Conclusion
How it scores
Each score is backed by a quote verified against the document text. Editorial review has not yet confirmed them.
Accountability
4/5Clear responsibility for AI outcomes
First, the Strategy focuses on strengthening governance, risk management, and public trust through clear roles, comprehensive inventories of AI use cases, transparent risk-management practices, and respect for Americans’ rights
Executive Summary
screening score · 2026-10-24
Fairness
3/5Non-discrimination and equitable treatment
Contracts will embed privacy and civil rights protections, avoid vendor lock-in through open and portable solutions, and bar any use of HHS data to train separate models without explicit consent.
Cross–Cutting Enablers
screening score · 2026-10-24
Human Dignity
3/5Respect for the inherent worth of persons
The Department recognizes that good governance (clear policies, oversight mechanisms, and stakeholder engagement) is essential to harness AI effectively while managing its potential risks.
Section 3: HHS AI Pillars
screening score · 2026-10-24
Human Oversight
3/5Humans remain in control of consequential decisions
AI will augment clinicians, caseworkers, and public health professionals, serving as a supportive tool that enhances human decision-making and efficiency without compromising the essential human touch
Pillar 5: Enable Care and Public Health Delivery Modernization for Better Outcomes
screening score · 2026-10-24
Privacy
4/5Protection of personal data and private life
Consistent with legal requirements (e.g., Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protections for Personal Health Information (PHI)), HHS encourages use of AI wherever it allows individuals to automate standardized administrative tasks
Pillar 3: Promote Workforce Development and Burden Reduction for Efficiency
screening score · 2026-10-24
Transparency
4/5Openness about how AI systems work and are used
To maintain your trust, HHS is committed to the highest standards of transparency and accountability around how, when, and why we deploy AI.
Introductory Letter from the HHS Chief AI Officer
screening score · 2026-10-24
Enforcement
4/5Consequences and compliance mechanisms with real force
Establish standardized minimum risk practices for high‑impact AI including pre‑deployment testing, AI impact assessments, independent review, monitoring, and safe termination if non‑compliant.
Pillar 1: Ensure Governance and Risk Management for Public Trust
screening score · 2026-10-24
Impact Assessment
4/5Required assessment of an AI system's risks/impacts before or during use
Establish standardized minimum risk practices for high‑impact AI including pre‑deployment testing, AI impact assessments, independent review, monitoring, and safe termination if non‑compliant.
Pillar 1: Ensure Governance and Risk Management for Public Trust
screening score · 2026-10-24