NAIRR Task Force Bares Pilot Program to Broaden AI Research Support

The National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource Task Force is implementing in 2024 a pilot program for a shared research infrastructure that will boost and democratize access to support resources vital for responsible artificial intelligence development. The National Science Foundation and 11 other federal agencies, as well as 25 private entities and nonprofit organizations, are supporting the program. 

Researchers’ application opportunities can be initially accessed via the NAIRR pilot website, which will issue a broader call for research proposals in spring 2024, the NSF said Wednesday.

The NAIRR Task Force presented the pilot program in its final 2023 report outlining a roadmap to create a national research infrastructure enabling broader access to AI research and development resources.

According to Arati Prabhakar, White House Office of Science and Technology director and a past Wash100 winner, the pilot advances President Joe Biden’s goal of promoting responsible AI for every American’s benefit.

The program’s initial focus is research into safe, secure and trustworthy AI, as well as the technology’s healthcare and environmental and infrastructure sustainability applications. Support will also be provided to educators on responsible training approaches to AI technologies. 

Earlier, the NAIRR Task Force issued guidance on its role as a U.S. AI research and development organization serving as the research community’s bridge to data and testbed resources and acting as an agent to broaden access to data driving AI development.