U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) led a bipartisan group of senators in support of the federal government providing $10 million in funding to establish the U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (USAISI).
Sen. Young and his three colleagues urged leadership in the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, & Related Agencies to include the initial $10 million of funds in the Fiscal Year 2024 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, or any other relevant funding opportunities, to establish the USAISI.
“The USAISI represents a pivotal and cost-effective strategy for the U.S. to maintain its leadership in AI innovation and underscore our dedication to collaborating with nations globally, ensuring the responsible and safe development of this groundbreaking technology,” wrote Sen. Young and his colleagues, who included U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-SD), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA).
The U.S. Department of Commerce in November 2023 announced the creation of USAISI within the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as part of ongoing efforts to ensure America’s global leadership in setting standards for AI innovation and use, according to their letter.
“The USAISI aims to provide a dedicated platform for research, collaboration, and implementation of safety measures in AI development,” they wrote. “This is not only a matter of technical necessity, but also a strategic imperative to ensure that AI technologies are developed in a manner that reflects our shared democratic values and supports American industry.”
NIST would use the funding to enhance the USAISI team with experts in red teaming and capability evaluation, support the formation of a Joint Research Center for advancing AI system evaluation techniques and safety research, and support the USAISI Consortium, which will play a role in integrating these advancements into industry and society, the senators wrote.
“By fostering an environment of collaboration, the institute will facilitate the exchange of ideas and knowledge, leading to more comprehensive and effective innovation and safety policies,” wrote Sen. Young and his colleagues. “We respectfully urge you to include $10 million for FY 2024 for the USAISI to support safe U.S. development of AI and effective international standards coordination.”