Future of U.S. AI Safety Institute Hangs in the Balance
In November 2023, the U.S. AI Safety Institute (AISI) was established under the umbrella of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This pivotal institution, however, faces the threat of dissolution unless Congress steps in to authorize its continuation. The AISI, which works in collaboration with its counterpart in the United Kingdom, operates with a budget of $10 million. Its existence is now in jeopardy following potential repeal of the executive order by President Biden that brought it into being.
The importance of the AISI cannot be overstated, as it plays a crucial role in maintaining the United States’ leadership in AI safety standards. The potential shutdown has mobilized a coalition of stakeholders, including more than 60 prominent companies and nonprofit organizations. These advocates are urging Congress to enact legislation that would secure the AISI’s future and provide it with stable funding. The concern is that without the AISI, the U.S. may lose its competitive edge in AI technology to other nations, impacting both safety standards and technological advancements.
The call to action is clear: to preserve the AISI and, by extension, the U.S.’s position at the forefront of AI safety and innovation. Stakeholders continue to push for a legislative solution that will prevent the institute’s untimely closure and ensure its operations are sustained well into the future.
