The White House announced significant progress in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), emphasizing a surge in federal hiring and increased funding for regional AI research initiatives. President Joe Biden’s executive order from late October, aimed at establishing the U.S. as an AI leader, has spurred action across departments, including State, Transportation, the National Science Foundation, and the Office of Management and Budget. These entities have invested in AI innovation and launched efforts to attract and train AI professionals, surpassing expectations set by the executive order. The Department of Commerce also released a proposed regulation requiring infrastructure-as-a-service providers to report transactions enabling foreign individuals to train large AI models with potential malicious applications online, aligning with the government’s commitment to transparency and safety in AI development.
Building on the executive order’s mandate, developers of advanced AI models are now required to notify the government and share the results of red-team safety tests. Nine departments, including Defense, Transportation, and Health and Human Services, have completed risk assessments on AI’s use within critical infrastructure, forming the foundation for ongoing federal actions. The AI and Tech Talent Task Force initiated efforts to expedite the hiring of AI professionals across the federal government, implementing large-scale hiring actions for data scientists. The Office of Personnel Management has enhanced flexibility in hiring AI talent for federal agencies, while talent programs such as Presidential Innovation Fellows, U.S. Digital Corps, and U.S. Digital Service have significantly increased AI talent recruitment.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) plays a pivotal role in advancing AI capabilities, launching the National AI Research Resource Pilot, a pilot project establishing a national infrastructure to enhance accessibility to AI computing power, data, software, and research. Additionally, the NSF granted $160 million over ten years to a regional project in North Carolina focused on research in regenerative medicine, showcasing the diverse applications of AI funding and support. The White House’s comprehensive approach underscores the nation’s commitment to maintaining leadership in AI development, fostering innovation, and addressing critical challenges in the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.
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