The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on developing safe and trustworthy AI.
This partnership is a key example of the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government approach to ensure safe, secure and trustworthy AI development.
This announcement follows the recent release of the first-ever National Security Memorandum on AI, which designated the U.S. AI Safety Institute (US AISI) housed within NIST.
This will become a key hub of the US government’s AI safety efforts and identifies a substantial role for DOE in helping the US government understand and mitigate AI safety risks and improve the performance and reliability of AI models and systems.
Expert innovation in advancing trustworthy AI
In addition to facilitating joint research efforts and information sharing, this agreement enables the Department of Energy and its National Laboratories to lend their technical capacity and subject matter expertise to the US AISI and NIST in advancing trustworthy AI.
“There’s no question that AI is the next frontier for scientific and clean energy breakthroughs, which underscores the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to push forward scientific innovation in a safe and secure manner,” stated US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm.
“Across the federal government, we are committed to advancing AI safety, and today’s partnership ensures that Americans can confidently benefit from AI-powered innovation and prosperity for years to come.”
Tech safety regulations will boost critical national security
Through this MOU, the DOE and DOC intend to evaluate the impact of AI models on public safety, including risks to critical infrastructure, energy security, and national security
Key focus areas include developing classified evaluations of advanced AI models’ chemical and biological risks and developing and evaluating privacy-enhancing technologies that aim to protect personal and commercial proprietary data.
US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo explained: “By empowering our teams to work together, this partnership with the Department of Energy will undoubtedly help the U.S. AI Safety Institute and NIST advance the science of trustworthy AI.
“Safety is key to continued innovation in AI, and we have no time to waste in working together across government to develop robust research, testing, and evaluations to protect and advance essential national security priorities.”
These efforts, combined with DOE’s AI testbeds, will help lay the foundation for a safe and innovative future for trustworthy AI.
