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US Senate Majority Leader Schumer Announces $10M for AI Safety Institute at NIST
US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) declared today that the National Institute Of Standards and Technology (NIST) is set to receive up to $10 million in funding to establish the US Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (USAISI). This institute, established in November 2023, aims to support the responsibilities delegated to the Department of Commerce under the AI Executive Order.
Prior to this announcement, scant information had been disclosed regarding the operation and financial backing of this institute. Particularly concerning was the fact that NIST, despite reportedly having a staff of approximately 3,400 and an annual budget exceeding $1.6 billion, was recognized as underfunded. A recent expose by the Washington Post highlighted the deteriorating conditions at NIST’s offices, including issues such as a leaky roof, black mold, frequent blackouts, and unreliable internet connectivity.
Senator Schumer’s Funding Covenant on AI
Senator Schumer emphasized the significance of investing in AI by labeling the allocated funds a ‘strong down payment’. The Department of Commerce entrusted NIST, which operates under its purview, with important responsibilities related to the safe and effective development and deployment of AI technologies as outlined in the White House’s AI Executive Order.
Senator Schumer’s statement came after the unveiling of the Commerce, Justice, and Science Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bill which includes provisions for up to $10 million to facilitate the establishment of the USAISI at NIST. This funding initiative has been applauded as a landmark development and an instrumental step in the realization of President Biden’s vision on AI.
NIST’s Mandate and Role in AI Oversight
The mandate issued to NIST through the White House’s AI Executive Order entails assessing and auditing capabilities concerning AI technologies. Moreover, NIST is entrusted with formulating guidelines for conducting AI red-teaming tests to ensure the deployment of AI systems that are safe, secure, and reliable.
Senator Schumer underscored that the NIST AI Institute will play a pivotal role in devising standards for assessing AI model safety and security, creating guidelines for verifying AI-generated content legitimacy, and establishing controlled environments for researchers to evaluate emerging AI risks. Working in concert with a Consortium comprising 200 entities primarily engaged in research, development, testing, and evaluation, the AI Safety Institute endeavors to enhance the safety and accountability of AI systems.
Scrutiny Over NIST’s Funding Adequacy and Transparency
An article by VentureBeat in February scrutinized NIST’s approach to the USAISI and its perceived lack of transparency. Lawmakers from the House Science Committee raised concerns about the absence of a clear funding allocation and criticized NIST for the absence of a competitive process for awarding research grants linked to the new U.S. AI Safety Institute.
These lawmakers expressed apprehension about the proposed AI research collaboration between NIST and the RAND Corporation, a prominent think tank vested in interests related to tech moguls, the AI sector, and the contentious ‘effective altruism’ movement. Lacking a well-defined funding mechanism created ramifications as reiterated by industry experts, including Rumman Chowdhury, who voiced challenges arising from an unfunded mandate via the executive order.
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