Academia's greatest strength lies in its ability to pursue long-term research projects and fundamental studies that push the boundaries of knowledge. The freedom to explore and experiment with bold, cutting-edge theories will lead to discoveries and innovations that serve as the foundation for future innovation. While tools enabled by LFMs are in everybody's pocket, there are many questions that need to be answered about them, since they remain a "black box" in many ways. For example, we know AI models have a propensity to hallucinate, but we still don't fully understand why. Because they are insulated from market forces, universities can chart a future where AI truly benefits the many.

This week, the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced it was launching a pilot program with 10 other federal agencies and 25 private sector and nonprofit organizations that could be a first step towards democratizing access to the expensive infrastructure required for cutting-edge AI research. The National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) pilot aims to provide expensive computational horsepower, datasets, AI models, and other tools to academic AI researchers who otherwise often struggle to access the resources they increasingly need. Chipmaker Nvidia, one of the companies involved in the program, said that it would contribute 30 million worth of cloud computing resources and software to the pilot over two years, while Microsoft announced it would contribute 20 million of cloud computing credits in addition to other resources. OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta, which are among the leading companies in the sector, are reportedly providing access to their AI models. The NAIRR pilot comes at a pivotal moment for AI research. As tech companies have plowed vast amounts of money into acquiring computational resources and datasets, and hiring skilled personnel, researchers in academia and the public sector have been left behind.

Fox News correspondent Gillian Turner has the latest on the president's focus amid calls for an impeachment inquiry on'Special Report.' Republicans and Democrats in the Artificial Intelligence Caucus are proposing the creation of a public research center that will give people and organizations access to the tools they need to create their own AI systems, even if they don't have access to billions of dollars in research funding. Lawmakers proposed the "Creating Resources for Every American To Experiment with Artificial Intelligence Act," or the CREATE AI Act, a bill that would establish the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR). In January, a federal task force called for the creation of this body and estimated it would need about $440 million per year to get off the ground. The CREATE AI Act doesn't authorize that specific level of funding, but the bill signals that both parties are interested in establishing the NAIRR in order to ensure entities other than the billion- and trillion-dollar AI developers aren't the only ones developing this new technology.

Today, the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) Task Force released its final report, a roadmap for standing up a national research infrastructure that would broaden access to the resources essential to artificial intelligence (AI) research and development. While AI research and development (R&D) in the United States is advancing rapidly, opportunities to pursue cutting-edge AI research and new AI applications are often inaccessible to researchers beyond those at well-resourced companies, organizations, and academic institutions. A NAIRR would change that by providing AI researchers and students with significantly expanded access to computational resources, high-quality data, educational tools, and user support--fueling greater innovation and advancing AI that serves the public good. "AI advances hold tremendous promise for tackling our hardest problems and achieving our greatest aspirations," said Arati Prabhakar, OSTP Director and Assistant to the President for Science and Technology. "We will only realize this potential when many more kinds of researchers have access to the powerful capabilities that underpin AI advances."

In late June 2022, Hugging Face submitted a response to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and National Science Foundation's Request for Information on a roadmap for implementing the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) Task Force's interim report findings. As a platform working to democratize machine learning by empowering all backgrounds to contribute to AI, we strongly support NAIRR's efforts. Our memo goes into further detail for each recommendation. We are eager for more resources to make AI broadly accessible in a responsible manner.

While the European Union is playing the long game in drafting regulation for AI, China has been surprising many with quick yet profound regulations. A report compares the situation for both jurisdictions. On a different track, the U.S. government looks at ways to improve its AI research infrastructure. The European Union has a long-standing reputation for regulating many facets of life. Its GDPR has been something of a global hit. With its upcoming AI Act it attempts to safeguard human rights and society generally.

The task force developing recommendations on a National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource must balance the need to provide valuable data with the increased risk it could be used to triangulate personally identifiable information, given the large number of parties expected to have access, experts say. Task force members want to include startups and small businesses developing privacy technologies among NAIRR's users, but exactly how resources, capabilities and policies would be integrated continues to be discussed, according to co-chair Manish Parashar. Members previously stated that U.S.-based researchers and students -- primarily in academia but also with companies that have received federal grants like Small Business Innovation Research or Small Business Technology Transfer funding -- are target users of the NAIRR. Privacy technologies they're developing could help the resource protect personally identifiable information (PII). "Yes, the task force is certainly discussing how privacy-enabling technologies could help enhance the privacy aspects of NAIRR usage," Parashar told FedScoop.

Rima Seiilova-Olson wasn't sure why she was the only startup founder on a panel full of academics. "I feel a little puzzled," said Seiilova-Olson, co-founder and chief machine-learning scientist at a mental health AI startup Kintsugi, talking to Protocol about her participation in a Feb. 16 federal task force meeting about how she might use a federally funded AI research cloud. The National AI Research Resource, or NAIRR, would be a repository of data and tools for AI research combined with access to the computing power necessary to develop machine learning and other AI systems. But just who will get to use it remains in question. Amid representatives from five colleges and universities, Seiilova-Olson was the lone speaker representing the private sector at the virtual panel discussion addressing the needs of various potential users of the NAIRR.

The Biden administration established several artificial intelligence bodies in 2021 likely to impact how agencies use the technology moving forward, but oversight mechanisms are lacking, experts say. Bills mandating greater accountability around AI haven't gained traction because the U.S. lacks comprehensive privacy legislation, like the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation, which would serve as a foundation for regulating algorithmic systems, according to an Open Technology Institute brief published in November. Still the White House launched the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) Task Force and the National AI Advisory Committee, both authorized by the National AI Initiative Act of 2020, hoping to strengthen the U.S.'s competitive position globally, which may prove a losing battle absent oversight. "Right now most advocates and experts in the space are really looking to the EU as the place that's laying the groundwork for these kinds of issues," Spandana Singh, policy analyst at OTI, told FedScoop. "And the U.S. is kind of lagging behind because it hasn't been able to identify a more consolidated approach."

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is seeking public input on what to include in forthcoming guidance that will set rules of the road for fielding trustworthy artificial intelligence in and out of government. NIST, following the recommendations of the National Security Commission on AI, is working on an AI Risk Management Framework that will set voluntary standards for agencies and industries to consider when adopting AI solutions. NIST, in a request for information posted Wednesday, said the upcoming framework will define trustworthy AI in terms of transparency, fairness and accountability. The agency plans to release the framework as a "living document" that adapts to changes in technology and practices. "Defining trustworthiness in meaningful, actionable, and testable ways remains a work in progress," the agency wrote in its RFI.