The U.S. must lead in artificial intelligence -- FCW

The United States must get serious about a comprehensive strategy on artificial intelligence or risk losing leadership in a technology that is different from any other that's been developed so far. Nations that lead in AI stand to gain tremendous advantages across industry, government and society at large. More than 20 countries and governing bodies have already released strategies to promote the development of AI in an effort to reap its benefits and, in some cases, take the lead in AI. But despite a promising recent executive order, the U.S., notably, has not created such a strategy. A transformative technology, AI's potential benefits include improving healthcare, streamlining national security and cyber defense, enabling more precise data analytics, and making agriculture more sustainable. A 2017 report by PWC estimated that AI technologies could increase global GDP by $15.7 trillion by 2030, representing a potential 20 percent increase, with $3.7 trillion of that increase occurring in North America, for a 14.5 percent increase in GDP.