The US Senate AI Working Group, led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senators Mike Rounds, Todd Young, and Martin Heinrich, has proposed spending at least $32 billion annually on non-defense artificial intelligence (AI) research and development. This funding level was initially recommended by the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence in 2021, with the goal of reaching $32 billion per year by fiscal year 2026. The senators’ “Driving US Innovation in Artificial Intelligence” roadmap outlines policy priorities for congressional committees to address, including:
- Increasing federal investment in AI research and development to at least $32 billion per year, phased in over several years.
- Establishing a comprehensive federal data privacy law to protect personal information.
- Examining potential impacts of AI on jobs and the workforce.
- Addressing national security risks posed by AI technologies.
- Promoting competition and preventing monopolistic practices in the AI industry.
- Enforcing existing laws and regulations related to AI.
The roadmap aims to spur bipartisan consensus on AI policy issues after a year of forums with stakeholders from industry, advocacy groups, and government agencies. However, critics argue the proposal heavily favors the interests of big tech companies over addressing substantive concerns around AI’s societal impacts, civil rights, and potential harms. While the roadmap lays out broad policy goals, it defers specific legislative proposals to individual congressional committees. Passing comprehensive AI legislation may face challenges, especially in an election year with a divided Congress.