In compliance with President Biden’s recent executive order on artificial intelligence (AI), the National Science Foundation (NSF) is swiftly taking action. This includes the establishment of four new National AI Research Institutes and the initiation of a pilot project to implement the NAIRR.
NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan emphasized during a press roundtable that while the organization has been investing in AI systems for a considerable period, the latest executive order has accelerated their progress.
Panchanathan highlighted, “The current state of AI is the result of NSF’s investments over the past five to six years. In the last three years alone, we have launched 25 AI Institutes, each with a substantial funding of $500 million.”
Out of the 25 National AI Research Institutes nationwide, 15 receive support from NSF, while the remaining 10 are backed by alliances, as per the director.
The strategy moving forward revolves around collaboration. Panchanathan stressed that NSF not only creates its own opportunities but also engages with potential partners to maximize impact. Collaboration is key to seizing these opportunities effectively.
NSF’s focus now extends to AI Research Institutes dedicated to trustworthy AI and its applications in various fields such as science, education, and agriculture. Apart from the existing 25 AI Institutes, the plan involves establishing four new AI schools, as requested by the AI Executive Order.
Michael Littman, NSF’s division director for information and smart systems, mentioned that the new institutes will cover a broad spectrum, including science and material science, to further strengthen AI capabilities.
Littman expressed, “We are expanding from the existing 25 universities to include at least four more that align with professional needs.” The objective is to drive AI research in practical settings that reflect real-world scenarios to better understand its societal implications.
Furthermore, the AI Executive Order has paved the way for NSF to kickstart the 90-day NAIRR pilot program. This initiative will provide the AI research community access to datasets, technology, models, and educational resources through shared national facilities.
Katie Antypas, head of NSF’s Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure, underscored that the primary aim is to facilitate access to resources to accelerate AI innovation while upholding the nation’s values.
Antypas revealed that despite the estimated $2.6 billion budget for NAIRR, NSF plans to launch the initial system by the week of January 21, 2024.
The pilot program aims to engage partners and demonstrate the value of the NAIRR concept to the AI research community as a stepping stone for the project.
Antypas emphasized the initial phase will be modest due to the rapid resource mobilization. She highlighted the directive to develop a pilot using existing resources, current authority, and contributions from technology firms. The enthusiasm is palpable for the impending launch.
“We have multiple organizations collaborating at present,” she added. “The executive order serves as a catalyst, setting a deadline that propels our progress.”
