The Center for Security and Emerging Technology submitted a comment on NIST’s draft Plan for Federal Engagement in AI Standards. The draft Plan was a welcome step toward greater federal involvement in the development of AI standards. As it points out, American leadership in AI requires active federal engagement in the standards process. CSET supports NIST’s call for robust federal investment in AI trustworthiness research, and we agree that NIST and other federal agencies should prioritize standard-setting processes that are open, inclusive and multi-channel.

As the federal government’s principal agency for standardization and a historic leader in AI and computing research, NIST is well positioned to spearhead federal engagement in AI standards development. To help ensure success, we offered suggestions for the final Plan.