Chips-Plus Artificial Intelligence in the CHIPS Act of 2022 | Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

On August 9, 2022, President Biden signed the CHIPS Act of 2022 (the “Act”), legislation to fund domestic semiconductor manufacturing and spur federal scientific research and development (see our previous alert for additional information). As part of its science-based provisions, the act includes many of the original priorities of the United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA), such as promoting standards and research and development in the field. intelligence (AI) and supporting existing AI initiatives.

National AI Initiative

The act directs the director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to continue to support the development of AI and data science and to implement the National AI Initiative Act of 2020 ( previous alert for additional information), which created a coordinated program across the federal government to accelerate the research and application of AI to support economic prosperity, national security, and advance AI leadership in United States. The Director will pursue the objectives of the National AI Initiative Act 2020 by:

• Develop NIST’s scientific staff and research infrastructure.
• Support measurement research and development for advanced computer chips and hardware designed for AI systems.
• Support the development of technical standards and guidelines for safe and reliable AI systems.
• Development of an AI risk management framework.
• Develop and publish cybersecurity tools, encryption methods, data science and AI best practices.

In addition, the act provides that the Director may establish testbeds, including in virtual environments, in collaboration with other federal agencies, the private sector, and colleges and universities, to support the development of information systems. Robust and reliable AI and machine learning.

NSF Technology, Innovation and Partnerships Branch

A new National Science Foundation (NSF) Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships Directorate (the “Directorate”) is created by statute to address societal, national and geostrategic challenges for the benefit of all Americans through research and development, technology development and related solutions. . Over the next five years, the new leadership will receive $20 billion in funding. In addition, the Directorate will focus on 10 key technology areas including AI, machine learning, autonomy, related advances, robotics, automation, advanced manufacturing and quantum computing, among others. areas.

DOE Research, Development, and Demonstration Activities

Within the Department of Energy (DOE), the law authorizes $11.2 billion for research, development, and demonstration activities and to address energy-related supply chain activities in ten priority key technology areas defined by new NSF leadership. In addition, the law authorizes $200 million for the DOE’s Office of Environmental Management to conduct research, development, and demonstration activities, including in the areas of AI and information technology.

Federal Graduate AI Scholarship

Act directs NSF director to submit to appropriate House and Senate parliamentary committees a report outlining the need, feasibility, and implementation plans for a program to recruit and train the next generation of professionals of AI. The report will assess the feasibility of creating a federal AI scholarship program to recruit and train the next generation of AI professionals.

Akin Gump’s interdisciplinary AI team continues to actively monitor upcoming congressional and administrative initiatives related to AI.