Commission Pushes for Increased AI Investments, Expansion of Microelectronics Programs

The National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence has offered the government initial policy recommendations that align with a broader effort to facilitate the Department of Defense’s transition to a digital enterprise.

Specifically, the commission wants the government to double non-defense AI research and development funding to $2B for fiscal year 2021 and again in 2022 in support of academic centers and national labs focused on AI work. Another recommendation calls for the expansion of the government’s AI-related microelectronics programs to promote the development of novel and resilient sources for producing, integrating, assembling and testing AI-enabling microelectronics, C4ISRNET reported.

The commission also wants the government to increase the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s funding for its microelectronics program to $500M, on top of establishing a $20M pilot microelectronics program focused on AI hardware.

According to Commission Vice Chairman Bob Work, a two-time Wash100 winner, the recommendations are aimed at helping the DoD run more like a software company since algorithmic warfare is expected to provide the greatest military competitive advantage in the future.