Is the US Doing Enough to Maintain Its Leadership in AI?

Governments around the world are pouring money into AI research and developing detailed AI strategies, but the US has been slow to follow suit. That's leading some to question whether policy makers are doing enough to maintain the country's lead in the technology. Earlier this month the US government announced that the 2020 budget request includes nearly $1 billion worth of funding for non-military research and development in AI. They were eager to note that represents a significant increase in spending on civilian applications--in 2016 the total was $1 billion including defense projects. But the response from industry insiders was markedly lackluster, according to the Wall Street Journal.