Representatives from industry, academia and nonprofits join National AI Advisory Committee.

The U.S. Department of Commerce appointed 27 members from major tech companies, nonprofits, and universities to the National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee (NAIAC). The objective of the newly formed group is to guide President Joe Biden and the National AI Initiative Office.

Google, Microsoft, IBM, Salesforce, Amazon Web Services, NVIDIA, Workday, DataRobot, Parity, and Credo AI all have representatives on the committee. There are also members from research institutes, including Data & Society Research Institute, SAS Institute, and the Technology Institute at AFL-CIO. Trade group The Software Alliance, also known as BSA, is represented, along with nonprofits AIandYou, EqualAI, and Benefits Data Trust.

Committee members were nominated by the public. They will serve voluntary three-year terms with the option to serve two consecutive terms.

“The diverse leaders of our inaugural National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee represent the best and brightest of their respective fields. Their anticipated recommendations to the President and the National AI Initiative Office will serve as building blocks for U.S. AI policy for decades to come,” said U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves. 

The group will provide recommendations on AI issues, such as competitiveness, workforce challenges, and the state of science.

A subcommittee will be established to examine how AI is used in law enforcement, examining data security, legal standards, and bias.

“The expertise of the NAIAC will be critical in helping to ensure the United States leads the world in the ethical development and adoption of AI, provides inclusive employment and education opportunities for the American public, and protects civil rights and civil liberties in our digital age,” said Alondra Nelson, head of the Office of Science and Technology and deputy assistant to the president. 

The group will also investigate how American AI technology is impacted by other countries.

“Artificial intelligence presents a new frontier for enhancing our economic and national security, as well as our way of life. Moreover, responsible AI development is instrumental to our strategic competition with China. At the same time, we must remain steadfast in mitigating the risks associated with this emerging technology,” said Graves.