In testimony before the House Budget Committee, CSET Founding Director Jason Matheny emphasized the benefits of artificial intelligence as a general purpose technology, the sources of U.S. leadership in AI, the federal government’s role in supporting the private sector and the importance of microelectronics.
AI as a general purpose technology
Dr. Matheny highlighted the broad range of potential applications in healthcare, agriculture, energy, transportation, national security and scientific discovery.
Sources of U.S. leadership in AI
Dr. Matheny encouraged policymakers to take advantage of the sources of U.S. leadership in AI, such as its open society, its competitive private sector, its power to draw international talent and its network of alliances.
Support for the Private Sector
Dr. Matheny encouraged research and development investments in areas less likely to receive attention from the private sector, such as basic research, safety and security, and testing, evaluation, verification and validation.
Importance of Microelectronics
Dr. Matheny advocated for the United States to strengthen U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturing to reduce supply chain risks and create high-quality jobs at home.
Additional hearing information is available on the House Budget Committee’s website.
Media Coverage
Congress probes how AI will impact U.S. economic recovery, VentureBeat, September 10, 2020
After COVID-19, artificial intelligence is next challenge facing US jobseekers, lawmakers told, San Jose Spotlight, September 11, 2020