Federal investment in artificial intelligence (AI) research and development nearly topped $500 billion as far back as 2015. But the House subcommittee on information technology believes that even with the expenditure of that much money won’t be enough to maintain the U.S. lead in AI in the face of a still challenge from China.
China has made a national commitment to be the dominant player in AI by the year 2030 and US policymakers fear that American companies will be outpaced by their Chinese rivals.
George Leopold filed this report in Datanami:
…the House report seeks to make the case for boosting U.S. AI investments as a way of confronting the Chinese challenge, approaching the issue from economic and national security perspectives. While concluding that current AI technology is “immature,” the House report emphasizes that profound effect the technology poises for the American workforce.
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“AI has the potential to disrupt every sector of society in both anticipated and unanticipated ways,” the congressional study concludes. “In light of that potential for disruption, it’s critical that the federal government address the different challenges posed by AI, including its current and future applications.”The AI hearings, spearheaded by Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas), chairman of the IT panel, also focused on how government agencies can promote development and adoption of “game changing” AI technologies. Officials from U.S. research agencies echoed the call for greater R&D investments, broad access to government data and expanding the AI workforce through computer science and STEM education.
