Why the U. S. is Racing Ahead in AI

Michael Kratsios, leading the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), recently spoke at a House hearing. He emphasized the U. S. government's focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and its plans to stay ahead in the global AI race. Kratsios highlighted two key initiatives: "Winning the AI Race: America's AI Action Plan" and the Genesis Mission. The Genesis Mission aims to speed up scientific research by combining data from various government agencies. Kratsios believes this approach can significantly reduce the time needed for research. He also mentioned plans to involve international partners in the program. Expanding AI talent in the workforce and schools is another priority for the OSTP. The U. S. Tech Force initiative aims to bring AI specialists into the public sector, with around 35, 000 people expressing interest so far. Additionally, the White House's AI Education Task Force is working to teach AI literacy in K-12 schools, with over 200 companies and organizations providing free resources.During the hearing, concerns were raised about the potential misuse of AI, such as generating nonconsensual sexual images. Kratsios responded by emphasizing the need to structure organizations effectively to deliver results for everyday Americans. Representative Zoe Lofgren criticized a recent executive order that directs the Department of Justice to sue states over certain AI laws. She argued that this order is unconstitutional. Kratsios, however, believes that forcing entrepreneurs to comply with different sets of AI rules in each state is anti-innovation. He is tasked with developing a sensible national policy framework for AI.