Ride the Lightning

Cybersecurity and Future of Law Practice Blog
by Sharon D. Nelson Esq., President of Sensei Enterprises, Inc.

White House Establishes National Artificial Intelligence Office

January 14, 2021

The Hill reported on January 12th that the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) has announced the establishment of a National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Office as part of an effort by the Trump administration to prioritize AI.

Rather late in the day for this administration to prioritize AI, but ok . . .

The office will oversee the implementation of the U.S. AI strategy and overseeing and coordinating work on research between the federal government and the private sector.

"The National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Office will be integral to the Federal government's AI efforts for many years to come, serving as a central hub for national AI research and policy for the entire U.S. innovation ecosystem," U.S. Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios said in a statement provided to The Hill on Tuesday.

The office was established as part of the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act, which recently became law as part of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The NDAA included broad language increasing research into AI, including the creation of a select committee on the subject and codifying into law new AI research institutes announced last year.

The administration announced in early 2020 that it would fund more than $1 billion for new research institutes focused on AI and quantum computing over the course of five years, which was in addition to $75 million previously announced to fund three quantum computing centers at major universities.

It remains to be seen how the new administration will address AI-related issues, but I would expect that the Biden administration would be supportive and perhaps more pro-active, hopefully with a strong emphasis on the ethics of AI.

Sharon D. Nelson, Esq., President, Sensei Enterprises, Inc.
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