Coast Guard members are no longer permitted to use commercial generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools like ChatGPT for work due to new policy issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Instead, you can use any of these three federal GenAI tools:
Each one can boost your productivity by doing things such as rewriting a document in plain language, summarizing reports, synthesizing research, writing basic code, and automating repetitive tasks.
CamoGPT and NIPRGPT have been available for a while. DHSChat just became accessible to everyone at the Coast Guard (you'll need to use your CAC). Because it is so new, there will be optional training for DHSChat this week on Teams:
- Best Practices & Overcoming Your Roadblocks with DHSChat (Teams Meeting) - Thursday, June 26 at 1:00pm EST
There will be additional sessions in July!
Why use DHSChat?
DHSChat was created specifically to support DHS employees. So, you can use it for CUI (no special designations), FOUO, PII, LES and SSI materials.
You can upload up to 20 documents to help DHSChat give you more useful outputs. You can save your chat history and even share your workspace with up to 10 colleagues.
What can AI do for you?
AI can benefit all sorts of positions and assignments across the Coast Guard as we’ll demonstrate in future articles. 
CamoGPT, DHSChat, and NIPRGPT work like their commercial counterparts with some additional features, such as policy analysis. They can interpret user-inputted prompts and draw on training data and pattern recognition to derive new digital content. Unlike commercial tools on internet, however, they provide a secure environment for FOUO, CUI and other sensitive information. All three tools also offer workspaces where you can collaborate with your team and upload documents to work with.
The best way to see how AI might work for you is to experiment. You can do this by logging on to the link for the tool you choose (all three Gov-Dev options are currently free) and then accepting the Rules of Behavior prior to use. Be sure to review these rules carefully as the tools have some differences in the acceptable uses. You can find useful tips on creating effective prompts and using DHSChat on the GenAI FAQ.
Since these tools are designed to be convincing regardless of whether generated information is correct, it’s vital to check the content. AI can get information wrong, so you need to review all AI-generated output for fabricated facts, misunderstandings of context or nuance, faulty deductions, non-functional code, or even citations that don’t exist. Remember that you are ultimately responsible for the information in products made with GenAI.
Coast Guard employees must immediately stop using commercial GenAI tools for professional use; any subscriptions must also be canceled, per the new DHS policy.
As part of the Force Design 2028 modernization effort, the Coast Guard will continue to develop its strategy for expanding AI capabilities.
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GenAI Tools:
Resources: