CBP Set to Publish AI Strategy
CBP is set to publish an "artificial intelligence strategy" with “guiding principles and goals” on how CBP can use AI “responsibly and with governance," Sanjeev Bhagowalia, the assistant commissioner for CBP’s Office of Information Technology, said March 26.
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CBP wants to look at how AI can be used in "identifying how to disrupt the importation of goods made by forced labor," as well as in the analysis of anomalies in X-ray images of "full containers and trucks," among other applications, Bhagowalia said, speaking during a panel discussion at the annual CBP Trade Facilitation and Cargo Security Summit.
AI "really is the evolution of customs," said Thomas Mills, executive director of the agency's Cargo Systems Program Directorate, in particular for its use to "help pinpoint risks, protect borders, speed up clearance." CBP now has the ability to take a “large amount of data” and “use AI to help complement the analysis for compliance and faster release of goods,” Mills said.
For example, AI-powered image recognition could be used for bills of lading, entries, entry summaries and bonds, Mills said. CBP would be able to "merge" that data with AI-powered image recognition "so that we can fuse those two" and "really look for efficient and accurate physical inspections, which is a game changer in the realm of enhanced inspections."
The agency also would be able to "look at risk profiles of traders based on historical data and toughen our enforcement initiatives as well," Mills said. That would provide "increased efficiency, reducing "processing times and administrative costs associated with customs processing."