WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC), and Rob Portman (R-OH), Ranking Member of HSGAC, announced the introduction of the Advancing American AI Innovation Act, bipartisan legislation to create a Department of Defense (DoD) pilot program establishing artificial intelligence (AI) data libraries relevant to the development of AI intelligence software and technology, ensuring private companies have access to accurate data so they can better meet DoD needs.
“The field of artificial intelligence and the role it plays in our nation’s security are rapidly changing and expanding,” said Senator Rosen. “Creating these data libraries will provide an entire sector of small startups and existing data companies with the tools to create AI models that are in line with the capabilities and needs of the DoD. This bipartisan legislation will bolster public-private partnerships in AI and ensure that our nation is able to make the best use of rapidly evolving AI capabilities.”
“The United States cannot take its Artificial Intelligence leadership for granted. We must fully utilize the public, as well as private sector, to synchronize and develop our AI capabilities across the transportation, health care, manufacturing, and national security policy spaces. I believe the Advancing American AI Innovation Act is a step in the right direction in facilitating this critical public-private partnership,” said Portman. “As co-founder of the Senate Artificial intelligence Caucus, I am keenly aware of the role industry, in particular small-sector companies, play in the development of DOD capabilities in this space – our government must continue to enable the participation of these small businesses in this process. I am pleased to join Senator Rosen in this effort to ensure America remains at the forefront of AI development.”
BACKGROUND: The Advancing American AI Innovation Act is based on a recommendation from the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI). The NSCAI report states, “Highly skilled technologists working in government are regularly denied access to software engineering tools. The digital workforce needs access to enterprise-level software capabilities on par with those found in the private sector. Capabilities include software engineering tools, access to software libraries, vetted open-source support, curated data sets, and infrastructure for large-scale collaboration.”
Senator Rosen has been championing efforts to strengthen America’s artificial intelligence capabilities. In July, Senator Rosen helped introduce bipartisan legislation to create a U.S.-Israel Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research and Development Center to further bilateral cooperation in AI and contribute to the advancement of this critical field.
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