– Senate working group recommends $32 billion yearly for federal funding for AI
– Recommendations cover a wide range of areas including infrastructure, national security risk assessments, and AI R&D efforts
– Recommendations include funding AI hardware and software work, addressing AI readiness and cybersecurity in elections, and improving government services using AI technologies.
A bipartisan working group in the Senate has recommended $32 billion in yearly federal funding for AI initiatives, including infrastructure, national security risk assessments, and grand challenges. The report, led by Sen. Chuck Schumer’s office, outlines key areas of investment to keep the U.S. competitive in AI.
The roadmap includes cross-government AI research and development efforts, funding for American AI hardware and software development, and initiatives to spur innovation through AI competitions. It also addresses concerns related to cybersecurity, modernizing government services, defense-related threats, regulatory gaps in finance and housing, and harmful uses of AI.
Legislation is proposed to address issues such as child sexual abuse material, evaluation of AI tools in healthcare, and transparency requirements for AI systems. The report also emphasizes the importance of training data transparency and examines the benefits of using private versus open source AI.
While the recommendations serve as a stake in the ground for future legislation, the likelihood of significant action during an election year is low. The rapid pace of the AI industry compared to government processes may mean that by the time actual laws are developed, the priorities outlined in the report may have shifted. More research and iteration are needed before concrete legislation can be enacted based on the roadmap.