NATIONAL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a transformative technology that holds promise for tremendous societal and economic benefit. AI has the
potential to revolutionize how we live, work, learn, discover, and
communicate. AI research can further our national priorities, including
increased economic prosperity, improved educational opportunities and
quality of life, and enhanced national and homeland security. Because of
these potential benefits, the U.S. government has invested in AI
research for many years. Yet, as with any significant technology in
which the Federal government has interest, there are not only tremendous
opportunities but also a number of considerations that must be taken
into account in guiding the overall direction of Federally-funded
R&D in AI.Educational research and development

On May 3, 2016, the Administration announced the formation of a new NSTC Subcommittee on Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, to
help coordinate Federal activity in AI.1 This Subcommittee, on June 15,
2016, directed the Subcommittee on Networking and Information Technology
Research and Development (NITRD) to create a National Artificial
Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan. A NITRD Task Force
on Artificial Intelligence was then formed to define the Federal
strategic priorities for AI R&D, with particular attention on areas
that industry is unlikely to address.

This National Artificial Intelligence R&D Strategic Plan establishes a set of objectives for Federally-funded AI research, both
research occurring within the government as well as Federally-funded
research occurring outside of government, such as in academia. The
ultimate goal of this research is to produce new AI knowledge and
technologies that provide a range of positive benefits to society, while
minimizing the negative impacts. To achieve this goal, this AI R&D
Strategic Plan identifies the following priorities for Federally-funded
AI research:

trategy 1: Make long-term investments in AI research. Prioritize investments in the next generation of AI that will drive discovery and
insight and enable the United States to remain a world leader in AI.

Strategy 2: Develop effective methods for human-AI collaboration. Rather than replace humans, most AI systems will collaborate with humans
to achieve optimal performance. Research is needed to create effective
interactions between humans and AI systems.

Strategy 3: Understand and address the ethical, legal, and societal implications of AI. We expect AI technologies to behave according to the
formal and informal norms to which we hold our fellow humans. Research
is needed to understand the ethical, legal, and social implications of
AI, and to develop methods for designing AI systems that align with
ethical, legal, and societal goals.