MITRE Urges US Government to Invest in AI Research Grand Challenges
MITRE emphasizes the need for increased investment and public-private partnerships to accelerate innovation in artificial intelligence. The nonprofit organization recommends that the U.S. government focus on AI research grand challenges, establish federal frontier labs, advance AI assurance research, and strengthen security measures to protect AI developments.
Establishing AI Research Grand Challenges
MITRE suggests creating AI Grand Challenges that align federal research with national priorities. These challenges would unite government, industry, and academia around critical missions. Key focus areas include:
- Biotechnology
- Semiconductors
- Domestic energy
- Advanced manufacturing
- Cybersecurity
- National security
- Efficient and effective government
These Grand Challenges aim to concentrate efforts on solving complex problems that impact the nation’s competitiveness and security.
Federal Frontier Labs as Innovation Hubs
MITRE proposes federal frontier labs (FFLs) as centers for public-private collaboration. These labs would support next-generation AI innovation and foster partnerships with academic institutions. The labs should prioritize open science, defense, and intelligence research.
In defense applications, FFLs could improve areas such as predictive maintenance, supply chain resilience, and cyber operations.
Advancing AI Assurance for Trusted Innovation
Research into AI assurance should develop reusable methods to identify and manage risks associated with AI systems. This includes:
- Discovering assurance requirements
- Characterizing and prioritizing risks
- Evaluating potential impacts
- Implementing risk management strategies
Such efforts are crucial to fostering trustworthy AI technologies that can be safely deployed in government and critical infrastructure.
Securing AI Research and Infrastructure
To safeguard AI advancements, the U.S. government should implement strong cybersecurity measures. This includes protecting AI research, data, and intellectual property from theft and cyberattacks. Securing physical infrastructure that supports frontier AI research is also essential.
Additionally, gathering intelligence on foreign AI programs and understanding potential vulnerabilities will help mitigate threats to AI adoption.
These recommendations come in response to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s request for input on the 2025 national AI R&D strategic plan.
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