USA WHITE HOUSE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ADVANCES REGIONAL INNOVATION IN CLEANTECH, ENERGY AND AI.

Investing in Winning Strategies

The USA White House with President Biden announced on Friday, Sept 2, the winners of a $1B economic development competition and announced the recipients for projects in areas like clean energy, tech, and AI. 21 winners will receive grants of $25M to $65M.

Additionally, private sector companies and local organizations are investing in The “Build Back Better Regional Challenge” is a program under the $1.9T American Rescue Plan, a stimulus package signed by President Biden in March.

Funded by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan and administered by the U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), the Regional Challenge provides each winner funding to rebuild regional economies, promote inclusive and equitable recovery, and create thousands of good-paying jobs in industries of the future such as clean energy, next-generation manufacturing, and biotechnology.

Projects include developing workforce training programs and connecting workers to jobs; providing support to family-owned manufacturers to transition from traditional automotives to electric vehicles; establishing a digital finance sector to support small businesses in Tribal communities; providing digital resources to small farms; renovating and repurposing industrial buildings for new businesses; rebuilding pharmaceutical supply chains in the U.S. to lower drug costs; building advanced manufacturing centers for testing and training; deploying solar energy on former coal land; and more.

AI projects included: A Georgia Tech Research Corporation coalition awarded $65M for AI efforts across Georgia’s industrial sectors and The Southwestern Pennsylvania New Economy Collaborative will receive $62.7M for projects in robotics and autonomy.

These developments of economic stimulation in AI reinforces the White House’s commitment to AI and if you are not already aware of AI.gov it is an important site which provides a wealth of information – from policy documents and strategies, to applications of AI, to the latest news and updates from the agencies and federal advisory boards helping shape the activities of the National AI Initiative. Created by Congress, the National AI Initiative seeks to sustain U.S. leadership in AI research and development, ensure the United States leads the world in the development and use of trustworthy AI in the public and private sectors, and prepare the present and future U.S. workforce for the integration of AI systems across all sectors of the economy and society.

“AI has become one of the most impactful technologies of the 21st century, providing both opportunities and challenges in nearly every sector of society,” said Dr. Lynne Parker, Director of the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Office. “AI.gov provides visibility into the coordinated work across the federal government that is advancing the National AI Initiative.”

AI.gov will continue to expand its resources and offerings to serve the many communities interested in AI research, development, deployment, and governance.

A Little More USA AI Governance History:

The USA National Artificial Intelligence Initiative (NAII) was established by the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 (NAIIA) (DIVISION E, SEC. 5001) – bipartisan legislation enacted on January 1, 2021. The main purposes of the initiative are to ensure continued US leadership in AI R&D; lead the world in the development and use of trustworthy AI systems in public and private sectors; prepare the present and future US workforce for the integration of artificial intelligence systems across all sectors of the economy and society; and coordinate ongoing AI activities across all Federal agencies, to ensure that each informs the work of the others.

In support of the Initiative, the NAIIA directs the President, acting through the NAII Office, interagency committee (Select Committee on AI) and agency heads, to sustain consistent support for AI R&D, support AI education and workforce training programs, support interdisciplinary AI research and education programs, plan and coordinate Federal interagency AI activities, conduct outreach to diverse stakeholders, leverage existing Federal investments to advance Initiative objectives, support a network of interdisciplinary AI research institutes; and support opportunities for international cooperation with strategic allies on R&D, assessment, and resources for trustworthy AI systems.

The National AI Initiative provides an overarching framework to strengthen and coordinate AI research, development, demonstration, and education activities across all U.S. Departments and Agencies, in cooperation with academia, industry, non-profits, and civil society organizations. The work under this Initiative is organized into six strategic pillars – Innovation, Advancing Trustworthy AI, Education and Training, Infrastructure, Applications, and International Cooperation.