Update of National Artificial Intelligence Strategic Plan: What Clients Need to Know

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing every segment of American industry: enhancing productivity, reducing labor costs, and providing companies and individuals with previously unforeseen efficiencies and insights. Simply put, the influence of AI in our daily lives is increasing on an exponential scale and will only become more commonplace in the coming years. Recognizing this fact, the federal government is increasingly devoting its efforts to identifying research and development (R&D) priorities and to setting standards of conduct to ensure that the United States remains at the forefront of global AI development. To that end, on September 26, 2018, the National Science Foundation published a Request for Information (RFI), seeking public input as the federal government contemplates updates to the 2016 "National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan" (AI Strategic Plan). The RFI presents an opportunity for all interested parties--including entities operating in the agricultural, energy, environmental, natural resources, and transportation sectors--to help frame the United States' general policy toward the development, deployment, and oversight of AI.