Social Security Announces Major AI Rollout

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Newsweek

Published Mar 14, 2025 at 12:36 PM EDT


The Social Security Administration (SSA) is implementing a nationwide artificial intelligence (AI) system which it says is aimed at improving the efficiency and accuracy of hearing recordings and transcriptions.

The new Hearing Recording and Transcriptions (HeaRT) system is set to replace outdated hardware and is expected to be fully operational by March 17, the agency announced. Newsweek has contacted the SSA for comment via email.

Why It Matters

The HeaRT system is part of a broader effort by the SSA to modernize its operations. The AI-powered software will work across all hearing formats, including in-person, telephone, and video hearings. This upgrade eliminates the need for bulky recording hardware and minimizes disruptions caused by technical failures, a press release asserted.

By reducing reliance on manual transcription and hardware maintenance, the SSA projects annual savings of about $5 million. The agency also anticipates that the improved system will help alleviate backlogs and allow administrative staff to focus on other critical tasks.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/social-security-announces-major-ai-rollout-2044942

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SS was doing some AI work/conversions under O'Malley - https://fedscoop.com/social-security-administration-securitystat-ai-modernization/

But am not sure if this system was one of the things already being worked on (sounds like a speech-to-text thing) or is something 45's people brought in.

[hlthe2b]

1. I believe AI can be manipulated to destroy SS. Show me why I am wrong?

[JustAnotherGen]

2. You aren't

And I'm despondent.

[elocs]

8. Well, it's your claim and I think that you should have the burden to prove your assertion first.

So go for it.

[hlthe2b]

9. Really, elocs?

'Not as cute as you think and really uncalled for... Kindly put me on your ignore list.

[mahina]

3. I guess we shall see.

[highplainsdem]

4. This is NOT good. They're using a type of AI that hallucinates, as the AI expert quoted in the

article mentions. But the acting commissioner says it's been "proven to work."

Their system will use Microsoft Teams AI transcription

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/reference.nsf/links/07152024010744PM!opendocument&vName=instructiontypecode&catval=CJB

which some sites I checked said has accuracy as low as 80%.

That's horrendously low accuracy when the subjects of conversation are numbers and money.

Businesses have been slow to adopt AI because of the hallucinations:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100218681833

Now, thanks to Musk, the government will be forced to use it quickly, and with Musk slashing the staff that could check the AI's accuracy and catch and fix errors.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. I was going to add a musing as to whether there was ever any pilot testing of this

but thought better of it when I saw that SSA was already delving into AI... although this system didn't come up in any searches for Biden admin planning, and that sent alarm bells ringing in my head.

[Harker]

6. AI still depicts people with supernumerary digits...

and, notably, two left feet.

[Lovie777]

7. AI is in the experimental stages and...

Our federal departments are the lab rats. It’s going to be messy.

[yellow dahlia]

10. Um? Is this saying that in three days we will no longer be talking to a human at SS?

[Karasu]

11. Oh boy. This is every fascist's wet dream.