U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., along with Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind.; Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J.; and Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., introduced the Creating Resources for Every American To Experiment with Artificial Intelligence Act of 2023 (CREATE AI Act). This legislation establishes the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) as a shared national research infrastructure, offering AI researchers and students increased access to essential resources, data and tools necessary for developing secure and reliable artificial intelligence.
“We know that AI will be enormously consequential," Heinrich said in a release from his office. "If we develop and deploy this technology responsibly, it can help us augment our human creativity and make major scientific advances, while also preparing American workers for the jobs of the future. If we don't, it could threaten our national security, intellectual property and civil rights."
U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif, co-chair of the House Artificial Intelligence Caucus, together with Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas; Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va.; and Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., introduced the House companion bill, echoing the CREATE AI Act's key objectives, which include promoting innovation, facilitating access to AI resources for researchers and students from underrepresented groups in STEM fields, enhancing AI research capabilities in the U.S., and supporting the evaluation and testing of AI systems implemented within the country, the release said.
“The bipartisan CREATE AI Act will help us weigh these challenges and unleash American innovation by making the tools to conduct important research on this cutting-edge technology available to the best and brightest minds in our country," Heinrich said in the release. "It will also help us prepare the future AI workforce, not just for Silicon Valley companies, but for the many industry sectors that will be transformed by AI. By truly democratizing and expanding access to AI systems, we can maintain our nation’s competitive lead while ensuring these rapid advancements are a benefit to our society and country — not a threat.”
The NAIRR will provide researchers, educators and students from higher education institutions, nonprofits and federally funded agencies with an array of valuable resources. These resources include computational tools, an open-source software environment and a programming interface for structured access to AI models, the release said.
Additionally, the NAIRR will offer curated datasets tailored to users' interests and an AI data commons, as well as educational tools such as materials, technical training and user support. The NAIRR will feature AI test beds, comprising an open catalog of test beds and a collaborative project with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, according to the release.
“Artificial intelligence is already integrated into nearly every facet of our lives," Young said in the release. "Recent major leaps in innovation provide great promise but also have caused some to highlight potential risks to society. The United States cannot cede leadership in AI development, and we must harness the great potential the technology offers in order to reap its benefits and combat any potential risks. The CREATE AI Act will help us do that by establishing the National AI Research Resource to democratize AI safety research and serve as a test bed for the development and implementation of innovative AI practices.”
“We have enormous scientific and technical talent distributed across the United States — academics and innovators who can help us solve some of society’s most pressing problems using artificial intelligence responsibly,” Booker added, according to the release. “However, the high costs of data and infrastructure are a barrier for many seeking to contribute to AI research and development. The NAIRR will expand access and allow us to tap into our country’s strengths to drive progress in AI that serves the public good and protect against negative outcomes.”
"Artificial intelligence has the potential to impact a range of fields, from national security to health care,” Rounds said in the release. “Our bipartisan legislation establishes the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource, which will provide tools and resources for universities and researchers across the country. Universities in South Dakota are already conducting research and applying AI and other emerging technologies. This legislation will allow these universities to expand their leading role.”
“AI offers incredible possibilities for our country, but access to the high-powered computational tools needed to conduct AI research is limited to only a few large technology companies," Eshoo said, according to the release. "By establishing the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource, my bipartisan CREATE AI Act provides researchers from universities, nonprofits and government with the powerful tools necessary to develop cutting-edge AI systems that are safe, ethical, transparent and inclusive. Diversifying and expanding access to AI systems is crucial to maintain American leadership in frontier AI that will bolster our national security, enhance our economic competitiveness and spur groundbreaking scientific research that benefits the public good.”