The Biden Administration will be investing $140 million USD into researching AI. Seven new research institutes will be launched under the National Science Foundation, an independent agency of the U.S. government that researches non-medical science and engineering fields.
Announcing the news on Thursday, the Administration shared that the institutes encompass collaborative efforts across “institutions of higher education, federal agencies, industry.” The focus of the research will hinge on “transformative” AI that’s trustworthy, ethical and of service to the public.
“AI is one of the most powerful technologies of our time, but in order to seize the opportunities it presents, we must first mitigate its risks,” the Administration wrote in its announcement. “President Biden has been clear that when it comes to AI, we must place people and communities at the center by supporting responsible innovation that serves the public good, while protecting our society, security, and economy.”
Along with the investment, Vice President Kamala Harris has met with the CEOs of Alphabet, Anthropic, Microsoft and OpenAI. The four companies, among others, have agreed to a public evaluation, which will consider how the companies’ AI aligns with “the principles and practices” laid forth by the Administration.
In other tech news, Google officially unveiled the new Pixel Fold.
