Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
A House lawmaker has proposed legislation to establish a yearlong, independent commission focused on the implications and opportunities posed by artificial intelligence for the Defense Department.
The "National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence Act of 2018" was introduced by House Armed Services Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) March 20. The panel would be charged with reviewing "the methods and means necessary to advance the development of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and associated technologies by the United States to comprehensively address the national security needs of the nation, including economic risk, and any other needs of the Department of Defense or the common defense of the nation," the legislation states.
"Artificial intelligence is a constantly developing technology that will likely touch every aspect of our lives," Stefanik said in a March 21 statement. "AI has already produced many things in use today, including web search, object recognition in photos or videos, prediction models, self-driving cars, and automated robotics. It is critical to our national security but also to the development of our broader economy that the United States becomes the global leader in further developing this cutting edge technology."
The panel would have 11 members, with the defense secretary able to appoint three commissioners, while the top four defense lawmakers -- the House and Senate Armed Services committee chairs and ranking members -- would each appoint two members, according to the bill. It states the panel can receive up to $10 million of DOD funding in fiscal year 2019.
The commission would be tasked with reviewing the competitiveness of the United States in AI technologies and the ways it can retain an edge over other countries, including the consideration of high performance and quantum computing, according to the bill. The commission would look at "means to establish data standards and provide incentives for the sharing of open training data within related data-driven industries."
The panel would also review "developments and trends in international cooperation and competitiveness," according to the bill. It would also look at ways to foster more basic and advanced research on AI, as well as workforce and education incentives "to recruit and attract leading talent" in the area.
The review would also include the risks and ethical considerations of the United States and foreign nations employing AI for military purposes, according to the bill.
An initial report on the commission's review would be due to the president and Congress within 180 days of the legislation's enactment, according to the bill, with a "comprehensive report" required within one year. The commission would be terminated at the start of FY-20.
The proposal comes as the Pentagon has begun developing an AI strategy, Inside Defense reported last week. Some fear the United States will fall behind China in the AI arena over the next decade, as Beijing has set a national goal of dominating the industry by 2030.