U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, Todd Young (R-Ind.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) praised the inclusion of $10 million in initial funding in the Fiscal Year 2024 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill to establish the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (USAISI).

Earlier this year, the senators sent a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee in support of initial funding for the USAISI. Read their letter here.

“We are pleased that initial funding for the USAISI is included in this appropriations package. The rapid advancement of AI innovation has brought forth immense possibilities and opportunities. With these advancements comes potential challenges and risks that must be addressed in a safe manner. The USAISI will provide a dedicated platform for research, collaboration, and implementation of safety measures in AI development. USAISI’s work will be critical to ensuring AI technologies are developed in a manner that reflects our shared democratic values and supports American industry,” the senators said.

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced the creation of USAISI in November 2023 as part of ongoing efforts to ensure our nation’s global leadership in setting standards for AI innovation and use. NIST will use the funding to enhance the USAISI team with experts in red teaming and capability evaluation, support the formation of a Joint Research Center for advancing AI system evaluation techniques and safety research, and support the USAISI Consortium that will play a crucial role in integrating these advancements into industry and society.