AI GOVERNMENT
America is opening its data vaults to AI
The US government plans to spend $5bn using AI to solve major scientific problems, including chronic diseases, drug discovery and stronger building materials.
Researchers will get access to the Department of Energy’s supercomputers, specialist data and AI tools.
Fifteen federal agencies will take part, including the departments of Health, Energy, Transport, Defense and Interior.
The White House says the project will help different agencies work together and make better use of government data on areas such as health, chemicals and critical minerals.
Numbers to keep in mind:
$5bn: For AI-powered science projects
15 agencies: Taking part across several fields
$40m: Microsoft’s computing support
Nothing says discovery like 15 federal agencies
The administration also wants to change how federal research money is handed out.
A new report suggests giving more funding directly to individual scientists and AI projects, rather than mainly through universities.
Courts have previously blocked some attempts to cut university research grants.
Microsoft will also provide $40m in AI computing credits over three years.
AI has been handed America’s largest datasets, so let’s hope nobody named the folder FINAL_FINAL_USE_THIS_ONE. - MG