TMF Invests in Nuclear Upgrades, AI Safety Standards Development

The Technology Modernization Fund has allocated a total of $13.8 million to the Department of Energy and the Department of Commerce for national security and technological innovation initiatives.

The funds will help modernize nuclear emergency response infrastructure and establish artificial intelligence safety standards, the General Services Administration said.

The DOE will receive $3.8 million to upgrade its Radiological Response Data Portal, which will improve the system’s capacity for real-time data analysis and visualization.

According to Kasia Mendelsohn, acting director of the Office of Counterterrorism and Counterproliferation, modernizing the R2DP, a critical tool for the agency’s Nuclear Emergency Support Team, will expedite data analysis, improve decision-making and enhance the nation’s response against nuclear and radiological threats.

Meanwhile, the Department of Commerce has been granted $10 million to support the U.S. AI Safety Institute, which is tasked with developing standardized protocols for evaluating AI systems before deployment.

Laurie Locasio, director and undersecretary of commerce for standards and technology, highlighted the ideal timing of the grant as AI use continues to become widespread. She said the funding will accelerate AISI’s development of AI testing capabilities, ultimately helping agencies safely implement AI-powered tools.