SUMMARY
President Trump announces new US Select Committee on AI (Artificial Intelligence), made up of government AI researchers. Its purpose will be to advise the President and to establish research partnerships between the government, the private sector, and independent private researchers in the US.
Commentary
This year, 2018, has seen governments around the world launching studies for future planning and development of national initiatives in AI. China has already announced their intention to dominate research and development in AI in the future. Earlier this year the “Villani Report” appeared in France entitled A Meaningful Artificial Intelligence – Towards A French and European Strategy. In this report a case is made for planning at the government level for the development of future AI initiatives in France and Europe. Cedric Villani, a mathematician and former winner of the Fields Medal in mathematics, will head the French effort.
There has been concern, recently, that without a similar national initiative in the US, which has dominated AI research to the present time, the US may lose its dominant position in the future. Today, May 10, 2018, the White House has announced the creation of a new Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence made up of the leading AI researchers in government. Its purpose will be to advise the President on government research efforts and priorities, and it will work to establish research partnerships between the government, the private sector, and independent private researchers in the US. The committee will include representation from DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) and the NSF (National Science Foundation), both of which have been previously active in government funding efforts in AI, as well as other related government agencies.
Is it Sputnik All Over Again?
This news will surely be welcomed by Universities, public and private companies, and by independent researchers in AI. There is currently a shortage of qualified personnel to fill the opportunities that exist today, and it seems reminiscent of the times in the late 1950s and early 1960s following the launch of the first Russian “Sputnik” satellite (1957). That achievement led to increased funding in the sciences in the US, updated University laboratories and programs, and support for new research and teaching efforts in the sciences. It will be interesting to see whether today’s announcement will have a similar impact.