Senators Seek More Funding for NIST’s Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute

A bipartisan group of senators has urged the Senate Appropriations Committee to earmark $10 million in fiscal year 2024 funding to support an artificial intelligence policy unit within the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

In a letter sent Friday, Sens. Maria Cantwell, Martin Heinrich, Mike Rounds and Todd Young wrote that the U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute is key to maintaining the country’s leadership in setting universal AI safety standards, influencing competition in ethical AI development, Nextgov/FCW reported.

The lawmakers explained that backing the USAISI would lead to “more comprehensive and effective innovation and safety policies” by encouraging knowledge sharing. Allocating the requested amount would allow NIST to recruit more experts, continue developing testing environments, coordinate private-sector support and finance joint research partnerships, they added.

The funding could allow NIST to establish and lead a Joint Research Center to support the USAISI Consortium, which is intended to support the integration of AI-based technology into broader society.