The White House today detailed the establishment of 12 new research institutes focused on AI and quantum information science. Agencies including the National Science Foundation (NSF), U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have committed to investing tens of millions of dollars in centers intended to serve as nodes for AI and quantum computing study. Laments over the AI talent shortage in the U.S. have become a familiar refrain. While higher education enrollment in AI-relevant fields like computer science has risen rapidly in recent years, few colleges have been able to meet student demand due to a lack of staffing. In June, the Trump administration imposed a ban on U.S. entry for workers on certain visas -- including for high-skilled H-1B visa holders, an estimated 35% of whom have an AI-related degree -- through the end of the year.

As the latest indication of this, the White House announced the creation of a Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence during an organized AI summit of industry and academic partners Thursday. "As artificial intelligence transforms everything from agriculture to manufacturing to transportation, the potential for AI remains breathtaking," Michael Kratsios, deputy CTO at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, said in his remarks at the event. "But we cannot be passive. To realize the full potential of AI for the American people, it will require the combined efforts of industry, academia, and government." The new committee, likewise, holds a mission "to improve the coordination of Federal efforts related to AI to ensure continued U.S. leadership in this field."