AI and quantum lead White House research priorities
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AI and quantum computing top the Office of Science and Technology Policy's research and development priorities for fiscal year 2027, per a White House memo released this week.
Why it matters: OSTP is doubling down on AI development as it looks to the future of the Trump administration's science and technology agenda.
- Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought and OSTP director Michael Kratsios sent the memo to agency heads, stating that "American dominance is not guaranteed and our adversaries pursue whole-of-nation approaches" to tech competition.
What's inside: The memo directs agencies to focus federally funded R&D on "targeted transformational investments in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum science, nuclear energy, biotechnology, national security technologies, and ambitious space exploration."
- Key areas for AI R&D include "AI architectural advancements; data-efficient and high-performance AI techniques and systems; the interpretability, controllability, and steerability of AI systems; and AI adversarial robustness, resilience, and security."
- Priorities for applied AI include quantum, autonomous robotics and nuclear energy.
The memo also lays out how building an AI-ready workforce and increasing AI education in K-12 schools in the U.S. is a key priority, along with ensuring the U.S. leads in semiconductor development.
- It also mentions U.S. leadership in 5G and 6G telecommunications technology, including "research on AI techniques optimized for wireless systems."
- Federal investments in semiconductor R&D are also "critical to enabling the development and deployment of AI and quantum applications and strengthening supply chain resilience."
What they're saying: During remarks at a United Nations Security Council debate on AI this week, Kratsios said that "the improper use of AI systems can erode deterrence, create destabilizing effects, and reinforce systems of political control and social engineering."
- "Knowing that, we are resolved that AI technologies used in national security applications are consistent with the highest standards of privacy, civil liberties, transparency, and protections found in the laws of the United States," he said.
- But he brushed off the idea of global AI governance: "We totally reject all efforts by international bodies to assert centralized control and global governance of AI."
