In their work Resource Democratization: Is Compute the Binding Constraint on AI Research?, presented at AAAI 2024, Rebecca Gelles, Veronica Kinoshita, Micah Musser and James Dunham investigate researchers' access to compute and the impact this has on their work. In this interview, Rebecca and Ronnie tell us about what inspired their study, their methodology and some of their main findings. We wanted to engage directly with AI researchers to understand their resource constraints when deciding what types of research to dedicate their time to. We also wanted to dig deeper and try to understand how resource constraints play out across the AI research community – particularly looking at divides between industry and academia, a popular topic of discussions about AI resource constraints. The reason we were interested in this question is that there's a lot of discourse, particularly from the policy community, about the democratization of AI, addressing inequities in the field, and the fear that progress in AI may be held back by resource constraints.

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.

"Then what are the protection mechanisms that can surround the data?" -In this Story-.

WASHINGTON - Portuguese-born Daniela Braga, founder of DefinedCrowd, a Seattle-based startup that specializes in artificial intelligence, is among the 12 members who will make up Biden administration's National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Resource Task Force. Announced on June 10, the new task force "will write the road map for expanding access to critical resources and educational tools that will spur AI innovation and economic prosperity nationwide," according to a White House press release. Braga, who moved to the United States in 2012 and founded DefinedCrowd three years later, said she was "truly honored and humbled" by this appointment. "The Task Force will provide recommendations for establishing and sustaining the NAIRR (National AI Research Resource), including technical capabilities, governance, administration, and assessment, as well as requirements for security, privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties," she posted to her LinkedIn account. "This is another step to have our country continuing to lead AI in the world in an ethic and unbias fashion."

Today, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced the newly formed National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Resource Task Force which will write the road map for expanding access to critical resources and educational tools that will spur AI innovation and economic prosperity nationwide. As directed by Congress in the National AI Initiative Act of 2020, the Task Force will serve as a Federal advisory committee to help create and implement a blueprint for the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) -- a shared research infrastructure providing AI researchers and students across all scientific disciplines with access to computational resources, high-quality data, educational tools, and user support. The Task Force will provide recommendations for establishing and sustaining the NAIRR, including technical capabilities, governance, administration, and assessment, as well as requirements for security, privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties. The Task Force will submit two reports to Congress that together will present a comprehensive strategy and implementation plan -- an interim report in May 2022 and final report in November 2022. "America's economic prosperity hinges on foundational investments in our technological leadership," said Science Advisor to the President and OSTP Director Eric Lander.

The U.S. National Science Foundation and the Office of Science and Technology Policy announce the government, academic and private sector representatives who will serve on the task force The U.S. National Science Foundation and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy today announced the formation of the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource Task Force. As directed by Congress in the "National AI Initiative Act of 2020," the task force will serve as a federal advisory committee, developing an implementation roadmap for the National AI Research Resource, a shared research infrastructure providing AI researchers and students across all scientific disciplines with access to computational resources, high-quality data, educational tools and user support. The task force will provide recommendations for establishing and sustaining the National AI Research Resource, including technical capabilities, governance, administration, assessment and requirements for security, privacy, civil rights and civil liberties. It will also submit two reports to Congress that will comprise a comprehensive roadmap and implementation plan. The task force will deliver an interim report in May 2022 and a final report in November 2022.