Industry Calls for More Research Funding, Public-Private…

Industry leaders are calling for enhanced federal funding and partnerships to strengthen the National AI Strategy. Major companies like Google, IBM, Anthropic, and Amazon made recommendations for the future of AI research in comments to policymakers, emphasizing continued investment and leadership in standards for AI technology.

In a recent push, industry leaders are urging the federal government to prioritize research funding and public-private partnerships as part of the National AI Strategy. Key players like Google, IBM, Anthropic, and Amazon have sent strong suggestions to policymakers, emphasizing the importance of diverse investments in technology that shapes U.S. artificial intelligence systems. This comes ahead of the 2025 National AI R&D Strategic Plan, which many see as pivotal for the future of AI.

The emphasis on sustained federal investment isn’t just a footnote—it’s the headline in the comments sent to the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Google, for example, highlighted the need for ongoing support in algorithm and chip design, as well as boosting workforce development. “The new Strategic Plan should launch a comprehensive initiative to educate America’s science students and scientific workforce on new AI technologies,” said Google, calling for an educational push that could elevate AI as a core scientific instrument.

On the other hand, Amazon echoed Google’s sentiments, arguing that every layer of AI technology requires attention from the federal government to sustain advancements. It pointed out successful collaborations with academic institutions to foster innovation across multiple technology sectors. “The federal government plays a critical role in AI research and development,” Amazon emphasized, showing a united front with Google on the need for strong U.S. government involvement in standards development.

IBM pointedly agreed with both tech giants, advocating for continued federal involvement especially around smaller, open-source AI models. They argue these niche models should receive funding, as they have distinct benefits compared to bigger, generalized systems like those underpinning ChatGPT. “To ensure American dominance of AI for decades to come, the federal government should prioritize research beyond transformer-based architectures,” IBM stated, hinting at the promise of alternative models inspired by neuroscience.

Anthropic brought a unique angle into the mix by emphasizing mechanistic interpretability in AI. They are pushing for federal support in understanding how AI models operate, asserting that insights gleaned from this could lead to significant scientific discoveries. Importantly, Anthropic insists that democratizing critical AI research must be a public-private effort, to maintain transparency and accountability in AI governance.

This increasing call for cooperation highlights past challenges faced under prior administrations, notably when the Trump administration canceled several NSF-led grants focusing on AI education. The landscape is shifting, and these tech firms are making it clear that bolstered federal support is essential for the vibrant, responsible growth of AI technologies moving forward.

In summary, prominent tech companies are rallying for increased federal funding and active public-private partnerships to shape a robust National AI Strategy. They stress the urgency of investment in diverse technology sectors and the need for leadership in standards development. As AI continues to advance, these leaders assert that federal support in research, particularly in niche models and interpretability, will be crucial for maintaining U.S. leadership in AI innovation.

Original Source: www.nextgov.com