November 2023 NIST Congressional and Legislative Affairs Constituent Newsletter

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NIST Congressional and
Legislative Affairs

Constituent Newsletter  – November 2023

Recent News


Executive Order (EO) on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence

The President’s Executive Order (EO) on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence issued on October 30, 2023, charges multiple agencies – including NIST – with producing guidelines and taking other actions to advance the safe, secure, and trustworthy development and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). 

The EO directs NIST to develop guidelines and best practices to promote consensus industry standards that help ensure the development and deployment of safe, secure, and trustworthy AI systems. 

In addition to working with government agencies, NIST intends to engage with the private sector, academia, and civil society as it produces guidance called for by the EO. NIST will build and expand on current efforts in several of these areas. That includes the Generative AI Public Working Group established in June 2023.

NIST will release a video with more information about its role in the EO on November 9. Subscribe to get an alert when the video is posted. 

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NIST Seeks Collaborators for Consortium Supporting Artificial Intelligence Safety

NIST is calling for participants in a new consortium supporting development of innovative methods for evaluating artificial intelligence (AI) systems to improve the rapidly growing technology’s safety and trustworthiness. This consortium is a core element of the new NIST-led U.S. AI Safety Institute announced at the U.K.’s AI Safety Summit 2023, in which U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo participated.

The institute and its consortium are part of NIST’s response to the recently released Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of AI.

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Selection Committee Announces Leaders to Operate the CHIPS for America National Semiconductor Technology Center

On October 11, 2023 an independent selection committee announced the incoming board of trustees that is expected to oversee a nonprofit entity that will operate the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC). The NSTC is the core research and development (R&D) component of the Department of Commerce’s CHIPS for America program. 

The NSTC will be a hub of collaboration for members of the entire semiconductor manufacturing and supplier ecosystem and will accelerate the pace of innovation and help lower the cost and time required to bring new technologies to market.

The newly selected board members will now begin the process of creating a nonprofit entity that is expected to run the NSTC and hire executive leadership. The Department of Commerce expects to enter into a funding agreement with the newly formed nonprofit so that it can begin to operate the NSTC. 

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Hearings


On October 18, 2023, Elham Tabassi, Associate Director for Emerging Technologies in the Information Technology Laboratory testified before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight and Subcommittee on Research and Technology.  The hearing was entitled “Balancing Knowledge and Governance: Foundations for Effective Risk Management of Artificial Intelligence".  The purpose of the hearing was to discuss NIST efforts to improve the trustworthiness of artificial intelligence.   

You can view a copy of Ms. Tabassi’s testimony or video of the hearing.



Events


Industrial Advisory Committee Meeting 

On Wednesday, November 8, 2023, The Industrial Advisory Committee (IAC) will hold an open meeting via web conference. The primary purposes of this meeting are to update the committee on the progress of the CHIPS R&D programs, receive updates from the committee working groups, and allow the committee to deliberate and discuss the progress that has been made. 

The IAC was established by Congress to provide advice on the science and technology needs of the nation’s domestic microelectronics industry, the national strategy on microelectronics research, the research and development programs and other advanced microelectronics activities funded through CHIPS for America, and opportunities for new public-private partnerships.  

For More Information and to Register, Click Here


NIST Artificial Intelligence Safety Workshop

NIST will host a workshop on November 17, 2023, to engage in a conversation about artificial intelligence (AI) safety. The hybrid workshop will be held at the Department of Commerce in Washington, DC, with options for virtual or in person attendance.  Additional details including the link to register will be shared soon. Subscribe to be notified when registration is available