US Establishes 7 AI Research Institutes

The National Science Foundation this week announced the formation of seven national AI institutes aimed at advancing technological innovation and bolstering the economy. AI research by the National Science Foundation will expand to a broader range of businesses across the U.S. economy through five new NSF AI institutes being created at a cost of $100 million. The new initiatives, which were unveiled Aug. 26 by the agency, will deepen the NSF's artificial intelligence research to expand the nation's workforce and drive new possibilities for a wide range of businesses, educational institutions, medicine, banking and other organizations. In a related announcement, two complementary AI research institutes are also being created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture over the next five years using $40 million in funding to expand AI research in farming and food processing. The new AI institutes will emphasize use-inspired research to help businesses and organizations, said James Donlon, program director for information and intelligent systems in the NSF's directorate for computer and information science and engineering (CISE) division.