Think Tank Offers AI Strategy Pointers for White House, Congress

U.S. dominance in artificial intelligence may be short-lived without a national AI strategy that synchronizes the goals of the administration and Congress, according to a report released last week by the Center for Data Innovation.

The tech policy think tank’s report lays out six overarching goals and makes 40 recommendations that ought to be included in any national AI strategy. White House officials have said they aim to release an updated AI strategy by spring 2019 and have designated AI a research and development priority for the fiscal year.

“The United States should develop a national AI strategy to bolster U.S. competitiveness and national security and maximize the social and economic value of AI,” the report states. “Many other countries, including China, France, and the United Kingdom, are developing significant initiatives to gain global market share in AI. While the U.S. government has taken some steps, it lacks a comprehensive strategy to proactively spur the development and adoption of AI.”

The report says Congress and the administration should focus on six goals: support key AI organizational inputs; accelerate public sector adoption of AI, including for national security; spur AI development and adoption in industry, including through sector-specific AI strategies; support digital free trade policies; foster innovation-friendly regulation; and provide workers with better tools to manage AI-driven workforce transitions.

The report’s 40 recommendations are categorized under ensuring data availability, developing AI talent, conducting AI research and development, transforming government with AI, spurring AI development and adoption in industry, ensuring trade policy supports AI, promoting “innovation-friendly” regulation of AI and providing workers with better tools to manage AI-driven workforce transitions