NASA has appointed David Salvagnini as its first chief AI officer (CIAO) in a move that underlines the expanding role artificial intelligence is expected to play in the agency’s programs. According to the official release, his role will involve developing the agency’s AI programs in conjunction with academia, industry partners, and other parts of government. This expands on the chief data officer role he has been performing since he joined NASA in June 2023. Before that, Salvagnini served the Office of the Director of National Intelligence as director and chief architect of the architecture an…