UPDATED 15:25 EDT / FEBRUARY 11 2019

POLICY

Trump to sign executive order aimed at boosting AI development in the US

President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order later today that will direct the U.S. government to take a more active role in the development and regulation of artificial intelligence.

Information is scarce about the American AI Initiative, as it’s called, with the administration pledging to release details over the next six months. The Office of Science and Technology Policy this morning published a brief summary outlining the five main priorities of the push.

The first two points focus on making more resources available to AI researchers. Under the American AI Initiative, federal agencies will be asked to “prioritize AI investments” and to report spending on machine learning projects more transparency. In addition, the government will provide researchers with other types of resources including access to an unspecified amount of extra funding.

Another focus of the order is putting the U.S. in a better position to deal with the rapid spread of AI software and devices. As part of the initiative, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy will craft guidelines aimed at supporting the development of “reliable, robust, trustworthy, secure, portable, and interoperable AI systems.” The project is set to involve officials from a number of other agencies, including the Department of Defense.

Beyond calls for new laws to regulate AI use, the rapid adoption of machine learning has also raised economic concerns. In 2017, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP released a report estimating that 38 percent of U.S. jobs could be lost to automation within 15 years. The executive order will direct government agencies to launch computer science programs and other initiatives aimed at helping workers adjust for shifts in the job market.

Finally, the American AI Initiative will seek to foster stronger technical collaboration with other countries. Several other nations, including Britain, France and Canada, have also taken steps recently to become more competitive in the global AI race.

The administrator’s new push to boost machine learning development comes against the backdrop of an ongoing trade dispute with China, which likewise sees the technology as a major priority. In 2017, Beijing unveiled plans to establish a $150 billion domestic AI industry by 2030.  

Photo: Unsplash

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