Source: analyticsinsight.net
Not long ago US President Donald Trump quoted that, “Continued American leadership in AI is of paramount importance to maintaining the economic and national security of the United States and to shaping the global evolution of AI in a manner consistent with our Nation’s values, policies, and priorities.”
President Donald J. Trump launched the American Artificial Intelligence Initiative, the Nation’s strategy for promoting American leadership in AI, by signing Executive Order 13859 in February 2019. Reportedly, the American AI Initiative focuses the resources of the Federal Government to support AI innovation that will increase prosperity, enhance national security, and improve quality of life for the American people. This national strategy for promoting United States leadership in AI emphasizes the following key policies and practices:
Invest in AI research and development
The United States has decided to promote Federal investment in AI R&D in collaboration with industry, academia, international partners and allies, and other non-Federal entities to generate technological breakthroughs in AI. President Trump called for a 2-year doubling of non-defense AI R&D in his fiscal year (FY) 2021 budget proposal, and in 2019 the Administration updated its AI R&D strategic plan, developed the first progress report describing the impact of Federal R&D investments, and published the first-ever reporting of government-wide non-defense AI R&D spending.
Unleash AI resources
The United States is adamant on enhancing access to high-quality Federal data, models, and computing resources to increase their value for AI R&D, while maintaining and extending safety, security, privacy, and confidentiality protections. The American AI Initiative called on Federal agencies to identify new opportunities to increase access to and use of Federal data and models. In 2019, the White House Office of Management and Budget established the Federal Data Strategy as a framework for operational principles and best practices around how Federal agencies use and manage data.
Remove barriers to AI innovation
The United States is making efforts in reducing barriers to the safe development, testing, deployment, and adoption of AI technologies by providing guidance for the governance of AI consistent with our Nation’s values and by driving the development of appropriate AI technical standards. As part of the American AI Initiative, The White House published for comment the proposed United States AI Regulatory Principles, the first AI regulatory policy that advances innovation underpinned by American values and good regulatory practices. In addition, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) issued the first-ever strategy for Federal engagement in the development of AI technical standards.
Train an AI-ready workforce
The United States is empowering current and future generations of American workers through apprenticeships; skills programs; and education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), with an emphasis on computer science, to ensure that American workers, including Federal workers, are capable of taking full advantage of the opportunities of AI. President Trump directed all Federal agencies to prioritize AI-related AMERICAN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INITIATIVE: YEAR ONE ANNUAL REPORT – apprenticeship and job training programs and opportunities. In addition to its R&D focus, the National Science Foundation’s new National AI Research Institutes program will also contribute to workforce development, particularly of AI researchers.
Promote an international environment supportive of American AI innovation
The United States is working on engaging internationally to promote a global environment that supports American AI research and innovation and opens markets for American AI industries while also protecting our technological advantage in AI. Last year, the United States led historic efforts at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to develop the first international consensus agreements on fundamental principles for the stewardship of trustworthy AI. The United States also worked with its international partners in the G7 and G20 to adopt similar AI principles.
Embrace trustworthy AI for government services and missions
The United States is readily embracing technology such as artificial intelligence to improve the provision and efficiency of government services to the American people and ensure its application shows due respect for our Nation’s values, including privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties. The General Services Administration established an AI Center of Excellence to enable Federal agencies to determine best practices for incorporating AI into their organizations.
America’s strong innovation ecosystem, fueled by strategic Federal investments, visionary scientists and entrepreneurs, and renowned research institutions, has propelled United States global leadership in AI. However, continued leadership is not predetermined. Maintaining America’s preeminent role in AI can only be realized by continually building upon our progress and pursuing a strategic, forwardlooking approach in partnership with industry, academia, nonprofit organizations, and other non-Federal entities.
Global leadership in AI matters. With the United States in the lead — together with like-minded allies — we will shape the trajectory of AI development for the good of the American people — enriching our lives, promoting innovation, fostering trust and understanding, and ensuring our national defense and security.
Importance of partnerships to maintaining United States leadership in AI
In all areas of strategic emphasis, partnerships and collaboration with academia, industry, nonprofit organizations, civil society, other non-Federal entities, and international partners and allies are of growing importance. Concurrent advances across government, universities, and industry mutually reinforce an innovative, vibrant American AI sector. Public-private partnerships enable strategic leveraging of resources, including facilities, datasets, and expertise. These partnerships also accelerate the transition of research innovations to practice, by leveraging industry expertise to turn open and published research results into viable products and services in the marketplace for economic growth.
In the education and workforce area, partnerships are enhancing education and training for next-generation researchers, technicians, and workers, so that all can contribute to the 21st century economy. Partnerships with nonprofit organizations and civil society can help address important societal challenges arising from technological developments. The Nation also benefits from relationships between Federal agencies and international partners who work together to address key challenges. AI partnerships with allies and partners represent one of our sources of strategic competitive advantage.
