As agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service shrink workforces and adopt leaner operational models, resources to support large scale modernization efforts are increasingly constrained. It is under this strain that John Gilroy opens a recent episode of the Federal Tech Podcast recorded live at the AWS Summit in Washington, D.C. Karsun Co-Founder Kartik Mecheri joins John and former General Services Federal Acquisition Services (GSA FAS) Commissioner Alan Thomas for a discussion on AI, digital workforces and the future of government modernization.

As John observes, the landscape of federal technology is at a critical juncture. Imagine systems born in the 1960s, like COBOL, still running essential government operations, while the average federal worker was born almost two decades later! This generational gap, combined with a shrinking government workforce creates an undeniable need for modernization.

At the same time, government agencies face immense pressure to deliver better experiences for their customers while grappling with complex legacy systems and processes that have been perfected over decades. These systems, often mainframes, are not just old; they are mission-critical, meaning they cannot be simply turned off for upgrades. Modernizing them is, as John notes, akin to “doing a little upgrade while you’re flying the plane”.

The AI Imperative: Introducing ReDuX AI-Powered Modernization

Enter Artificial Intelligence, AI. Government agencies are increasingly interested in AI for modernization to pick up the slack from fewer personnel and improve service delivery. Karsun Solutions offers a powerful tool designed specifically for this challenge: ReDuX.

The ReDuX Modernization Platform Addresses Several Key Pain Points:

  • Declining Subject Matter Expertise: As veteran employees retire, the deep knowledge of these legacy systems often walks out the door with them. Redux.ai aims to capture this expertise.
  • Complex Migrations: Converting decades of intricate code and interactions into modern architectures within a tight timeframe (e.g., 40 years of work into a 5-year project) is a monumental task.

How ReDuX Transforms Modernization

Redux uses specialized AI agents to streamline the modernization process:

  • Blueprinting Agents: These agents delve into legacy code, extract crucial information, and integrate it with user guides and demonstrations. The goal is for the agents to become the subject matter expert on the legacy system.
  • Modernization Agents: Once the legacy system is understood, these agents can convert the code to run on modern cloud platforms like AWS or Azure. They ensure the new system adheres to the required architecture and security posture of the agency.

Karsun has successfully used ReDuX to migrate multiple mainframe COBOL applications and other legacy systems (like Visual Basic 6, VB6) to modern technologies. This approach can accelerate modernization by 4x and reduce costs by 2x, reducing key modernization tasks by months and even years.

The Rise of the Digital Workforce

A key concept driving this transformation is the “digital workforce”. This involves building digital equivalents or “digital assistants” for every role in the software development cycle. Imagine:

  • An architect agent that understands your target architecture and generates diagrams, documentation, and security architecture.
  • Agents for creating unit tests, generating code, or ensuring security compliance.
  • Agents for business analysts to create user stories.

The idea is to empower agile teams with digital support allowing them to focus on strategic, high-value, creative, and innovative work. While managing human teams is a well-understood skill, managing these “agents” is a new frontier that the future leaders will need to master.

Looking ahead, experts predict that within a year, we will see more demonstrable examples of AI deployment with clear business benefits. Leaders will need to balance AI’s promise with risks. As they conclude their discussion, John, Kartik and Alan discuss strategies for mitigating AI hallucinations, improving accuracy and reducing security risks. They also discuss identifying technology partners with the strategic relationships required to effectively implement technology in the evolving environment.
For federal legacy systems the modernization journey is complex, but with innovations like Karsun Solutions and the ReDuX team, the path to a more efficient, agile, and secure government future is becoming clearer.

Tune in to the podcast to learn more or check out GoReDuX.ai