The execution gap in government AI: why integration holds the key

COMMENTARY | As government agencies move to adopt AI tools, one challenge is quietly derailing their progress: the inability to successfully integrate emerging capabilities with legacy systems.

We’ve entered a new era of innovation. Across the U.S. public sector and government agencies, AI is transforming everything from city planning to national security. Decision-makers are testing how AI can predict infrastructural needs, enhance cybersecurity and improve citizen services. 

But there’s a roadblock many aren’t talking about. It’s not a lack of visionary use cases. It’s not even funding. According to NetApp’s AI Space Race survey, the top barrier to AI adoption isn’t imagination, skill gaps or cost. The challenge is integration — specifically, connecting new AI systems with existing legacy infrastructure. 

This quiet chokepoint is slowing the progress of government AI projects — not because integration is impossible, but because it’s often overlooked in planning ...