{"id":18607,"date":"2019-06-21T20:16:44","date_gmt":"2019-06-21T20:16:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/06\/21\/why-agencies-should-look-to-industry-for-ai\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T04:37:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T04:37:58","slug":"why-agencies-should-look-to-industry-for-ai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/it-networks\/2019\/06\/21\/why-agencies-should-look-to-industry-for-ai\/","title":{"rendered":"Why agencies should look to industry for AI"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The National Science and Technology Council wants federal agencies to partner with the private sector as they explore the benefits of artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an update to the National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan from NSTC\u2019s Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence, the NSTC called on agencies to \u201cexpand public\u2013private partnerships to accelerate advances in AI.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The updated report says that agencies should focus on private-public partnerships because they allow the government and industry to combine resources \u2014 such as facilities, personnel or data sets \u2014 in addition to providing educational opportunities and training for future researchers, technicians and leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFederal agencies must therefore continue to pursue and strengthen public-private partnerships in AI R&D to drive technology development and economic growth by leveraging investments and expertise in areas of mutual interest to government, industry, and academia,\u201d the report said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based on public comments since August 2018, the NSTC updated the 2016 strategic plan that set objectives for federal-funded AI research. The original report outlined seven strategies for developing AI, but the public comments for the updated report suggested NSTC adopt a public-private partnerships as its eighth strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe federal government must therefore continually reevaluate its priorities for AI R&D investments, to ensure that investments continue to advance the cutting edge of the field and are not unnecessarily duplicative of industry investments,\u201d said Michael Kratsios, deputy assistant to the president for technology policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report identified four areas of public-private partnerships that have proven productive for agencies: individual project-based collaborations; joint programs to advance open, precompetitive, fundamental research; collaborations to deploy and enhance research infrastructure; and collaborations to enhance workforce development including broadening participation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn each of these cases, leveraging each partner\u2019s strengths for the benefit of all is vitally important to achieving success,\u201d the report said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The updated report addresses only AI research and development by agencies and doesn\u2019t develop any policy or regulatory recommendations regarding the use of AI. Still, the updated report received praise from AI advocates on Capitol Hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cResearch and development funding by the federal government to augment existing efforts by the private sector is essential to ensure continued American leadership in AI and other critical emerging technologies,\u201d Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More research is also needed on how to remove any racial, gender, age or economic-status bias, the report said. As AI is deployed in more spaces in the government, bias in the technology is a particular concern<\/a>, especially on Capitol Hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other seven AI development strategies are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n