US to Establish AI Centers for Manufacturing and Cybersecurity

To ensure the United States maintains its global leadership in artificial intelligence (AI), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has announced a $20 million investment in an AI security program. This investment will fund the creation of two new research and development centers: the "US Manufacturing Productivity AI Economic Security Center" and the "AI Economic Security Center for Protecting US Critical Infrastructure from Cyber ​​Threats." This initiative aims to address technological competition, enhance national security, and drive economic growth.

In a statement released on December 22, NIST indicated that these two centers will be operated by the non-profit organization MITRE. MITRE plays a significant role in US technological development, dedicated to promoting innovation and addressing national security issues. The newly established centers will focus on the evaluation and development of AI technologies, specifically how to maintain the US's leading position in global AI innovation, counter threats posed by competitors utilizing AI technologies, and reduce reliance on insecure AI technologies.

As AI technology permeates various industries, it brings not only opportunities but also new security challenges. For example, while AI improves efficiency, it may also lead to risks such as privacy breaches and cyberattacks. Therefore, NIST aims to promote the establishment of safety, sustainability, and ethical standards for AI technologies through these centers, ensuring that AI technology provides benefits while minimizing potential negative impacts.

NIST stated that these R&D centers will support technological breakthroughs and advancements in AI applications in the United States, helping the country address the challenges it faces. By integrating resources from academia, industry, and government, the centers will strive to enhance US competitiveness in critical technology areas, promote the development of intelligent manufacturing and cybersecurity technologies, and ensure the US maintains its leading position in global technological competition.

US Deputy Secretary of Commerce Paul Dabbar stated that this investment will not only help improve the competitiveness of US manufacturers but also provide impetus for the revitalization of US manufacturing by attracting more investment. As global manufacturing competition intensifies, the US needs to focus more on technological innovation, especially in the application of artificial intelligence, to remain competitive.

Craig Burkhardt, Acting Under Secretary for Standards and Technology at NIST, also commented: "This collaboration with MITRE will help US companies improve productivity, meet domestic and international market demands, and facilitate the commercialization of new technologies and equipment." This collaboration focuses not only on increasing productivity but also on transforming technological innovation into market-competitive products. This investment is part of NIST's "American Technology Leadership Strategy for the 21st Century," aimed at accelerating the translation of critical and emerging technologies from research and development to application. This strategy aligns with the core objectives of the White House's "American AI Initiative," particularly in accelerating AI technology innovation and building AI infrastructure.

These two new centers will support several AI and security projects led by NIST, including the Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI). This center focuses on the safety standards, ethics, and explainability of AI technologies, striving to develop unified industry standards for AI technologies to ensure their safe and transparent application globally. CAISI will promote the safety and compliance of global AI technologies, ensuring the United States maintains its leading position in AI ethics.

In addition, NIST plans to launch a project called the "Artificial Intelligence Resilient Manufacturing Institute." This institute will be established under the "Made in America" ​​initiative, with a planned $70 million in federal funding, combined with private investment, to enhance the resilience of AI-driven supply chains and manufacturing. The supply chain challenges brought about by globalization require American manufacturing to operate efficiently, especially in responding to unforeseen events. This institute will help American manufacturing improve its resilience while promoting the widespread application of AI technology in the manufacturing sector.

Overall, this investment plan by NIST is both a forward-looking strategy for future technological development and a crucial measure by the U.S. government to enhance national competitiveness and safeguard economic security. Through this investment, the United States demonstrates its determination in the global competition for artificial intelligence technology and will continue to lead the global trend of technological innovation.