Artificial Intelligence for the American People
Introduction
Overview
The age of artificial intelligence (AI) has arrived, and is transforming everything from healthcare to transportation to manufacturing.
America has long been the global leader in this new era of AI, and is poised to maintain this leadership going forward because of our strong innovation ecosystem. Realizing the full potential of AI for the Nation requires the combined efforts of industry, academia, and government. The Administration has been active in developing policies and implementing strategies that accelerate AI innovation in the U.S. for the benefit of the American people. These activities align with several areas of emphasis: AI for American Innovation, AI for American Industry, AI for the American Worker, and AI with American Values. This AI.gov website provides a portal for exploring these activities in more depth, and serves as a resource for those who want to learn more about how to take full advantage of the opportunities of AI.
“Continued American leadership in Artificial Intelligence is of paramount importance to maintaining the economic and national security of the United States.”
– President Donald J. Trump
01 Executive Order on AI
The Trump Administration is committed to strengthening American leadership in artificial intelligence (AI). Recognizing the strategic importance of AI to the Nation’s future economy and security, the Trump Administration established the American AI Initiative via Executive Order 13859 in February 2019. This initiative identified five key lines of effort, including increasing AI research investment, unleashing Federal AI computing and data resources, setting AI technical standards, building America’s AI workforce, and engaging with international allies. These lines of effort were codified into law as part of the National AI Initiative Act of 2020.
In historic actions, the Administration committed to doubling AI research investment, established the first-ever national AI research institutes, issued a plan for AI technical standards, released the world’s first AI regulatory guidance, forged new international AI alliances, and established guidance for Federal use of AI.
To oversee and implement the U.S. national AI strategy, the White House established the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Office in early January 2021, in accordance with the National AI Initiative Act of 2020. This Office serves as the central hub for Federal coordination and collaboration in AI research and policymaking across the government, as well as with private sector, academia, and other stakeholders.
Through these actions of the Trump Administration, together with the unparalleled enthusiasm and activity of the private sector and academia, the United States remains the world leader in artificial intelligence.
Summary of the AI Executive Order
Op-Ed on the AI Executive Order
AI in Government
In September 2019, The White House hosted the Summit on Artificial Intelligence in Government to spark ideas for how the Federal government can adopt AI to better achieve its mission and improve services to the American people. Over 175 leaders and experts from government, industry, and academia came together to identify best practices in the use of AI, opportunities to foster collaborative partnerships, and ways to develop a Federal AI workforce. The Summit highlighted innovative efforts at Federal agencies that have already adopted AI, and looked ahead to future transformative AI applications that will make government more effective, efficient, and responsive.
An AI pilot project featured at this Summit by the Department of Health and Human Services led to a new effort announced by GSA to assist Federal agencies in using AI to conduct regulatory review and improve the rule-making process.
Accelerating the adoption of AI in government, the General Service Administration (GSA) launched the AI Center of Excellence in September 2019, along with the AI Community of Practice soon thereafter. The AI Center of Excellence was later codified into law by the AI in Government Act of 2020. These efforts are supporting and coordinating the use of AI in the Federal agencies, helping to deploy scalable solutions and facilitating the sharing of best practices and tools for AI adoption.
In December 2020, the President signed Executive Order 13960 on Promoting the Use of Trustworthy AI in the Federal Government, which establishes guidance for Federal agency adoption of AI to more effectively deliver services to the American people and foster public trust in this critical technology. This EO defines principles for the use of AI in Government, establishes a common policy for implementing the principles, directs agencies to catalogue their AI use cases, and calls on GSA and the Office of Personnel Management to enhance AI implementation expertise at the agencies.
Summary of 2019 White House Summit on AI in Government
White House Summit on AI for American Industry
In May 2018, The White House hosted the Summit on Artificial Intelligence for American Industry to discuss the promise of AI and the policies needed to realize that promise for the American people and maintain U.S. leadership in the age of AI. The summit brought together over 100 senior government officials, technical experts from top academic institutions, heads of industrial research labs, and American business leaders who are adopting AI technologies to benefit their customers, workers, and shareholders. At this summit, participants engaged in two sets of breakout sessions focused on cross-cutting issues such as AI R&D, workforce development, regulatory barriers to AI innovation, and sector-specific applications of AI.
Summary of 2018 White House Summit on AI for American Industry