White House Press Release (released on September 26th, 2018):
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Federal Artificial Intelligence Select Committee Seeks Update to National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan
WASHINGTON – Today, The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy announced that the Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence ("Select Committee") of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) began updating the National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan.
"Given the rapid pace of AI research, it is critical that U.S. R&D investments remain at the forefront of science and technology. By updating our strategic plan for AI R&D, we help ensure that the United States continues to lead in cutting edge AI innovations that address the most pressing AI challenges of today," Deputy Assistant to the President for Technology Policy Michael Kratsios said.
In 2016, the NSTC published The National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan, authored by many of the top Federal experts in artificial intelligence, to guide Federal investments in AI R&D. In the two years since publication there have been rapid advancements in the underlying technology, use cases, and commercial implementation of artificial intelligence. Updating the strategic plan in light of these developments will help ensure continued American leadership in AI R&D.
The Select Committee is made up of the senior-most officials in government tasked with overseeing Federal artificial intelligence (AI) research and development (R&D), including the Director of the National Science Foundation, the Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Undersecretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology, the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the Undersecretary of Energy for Science, and the Director of the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Agency.
As they initiate the update of the 2016 Plan, the Select Committee is seeking public input on whether the strategic plan should be revised and, if so, the ways in which it may be improved. Today, a Request for Information (RFI) issued by the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) National Coordination Office, in conjunction with the National Science Foundation, is soliciting input from the American people, including those directly performing AI R&D, and those affected by it.
AI and the Trump Administration
The Trump Administration is committed to expanding America's leading role in artificial intelligence, and has taken several steps to support and implement a new artificial intelligence strategy.
President Trump's commitment to deregulation has spurred the creation of new industries by removing barriers to the deployment of AI-powered technologies including automated vehicles, drones, and medical diagnostics.
The FY 2019<https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/omb/memoranda/2017/m-17-30.pdf> and FY 2020<https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/M-18-22.pdf> R&D Budget Priorities memos specifically designate artificial intelligence and machine learning as key priorities for Federal research and development dollars.
The President's FY 2019 Budget Request<https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/ap_18_research-fy2019.pdf> was the first in history to designate artificial intelligence as a critical area for R&D funding. Specific funding areas included basic AI research at the National Science Foundation, applied R&D at the Department of Transportation, development of AI defense applications at the Department of Defense, research on advanced health analytics at the National Institutes of Health, and research for AI computing infrastructure at the Department of Energy.
President Trump's National Security Strategy<https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/NSS-Final-12-18-2017-0905.pdf> and National Defense Strategy<https://dod.defense.gov/Portals/1/Documents/pubs/2018-National-Defense-Strategy-Summary.pdf> both explicitly designated artificial intelligence is a key component of national security.
In May 2018, The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) hosted the first White House Summit on Artificial Intelligence for American Industry<https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Summary-Report-of-White-House-AI-Summit.pdf?latest>, bringing together industry stakeholders, academics, and government leaders to address artificial intelligence. Following this event, the NSTC announced the creation of the Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence, bringing together R&D leaders to identify approaches that help ensure a thriving ecosystem for American AI research and development.
Request for Information
Through this RFI<https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/09/26/2018-20914/request-for-information-on-update-to-the-2016-national-artificial-intelligence-research-and>, input is requested on the addition, removal, or modification of strategic aims, as well as comments regarding existing strategic aims and their past or future implementation by the Federal government. The public input provided in response to this RFI will inform NITRD NCO and the Select Committee in updating the National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan.
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Federal Register Link to RFI:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/09/26/2018-20914/request-for-information-on-update-to-the-2016-national-artificial-intelligence-research-and
PDF: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-09-26/pdf/2018-20914.pdf
The 2016 National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan report:
https://www.nitrd.gov/pubs/national_ai_rd_strategic_plan.pdf
Past public responses (161) to the RFI on the Future of Artificial Intelligence - September 1, 2016:
https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/OSTP-AI-RFI-Responses.pdf
FedScoop Article on OSTP and AI:
https://www.fedscoop.com/white-house-artifical-intelligence-committee-kratsios/
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Steve Pierson
Director of Science Policy
American Statistical Association
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