Pioneering The Future Advanced Computing Ecosystem: A Strategic Plan

View Full Text:  Future-Advanced-Computing-Ecosystem-Strategic-Plan-Nov-2020.pdf

This strategic plan envisions a future advanced computing ecosystem that provides the foundation for continuing American leadership in science and engineering, economic competitiveness, and national security. It develops a whole-of-nation approach based on input from government, academia, nonprofits, and industry sectors, and builds on the objectives and recommendations of the "2019 National Strategic Computing Initiative Update: Pioneering the Future of Computing". This strategic plan also identifies agency roles and responsibilities and describes essential operational and coordination structures necessary to support and implement its objectives.

View Full Text:  Future-Advanced-Computing-Ecosystem-Strategic-Plan-Nov-2020.pdf

Recommendations for Leveraging Cloud Computing Resources for Federally Funded Artificial Intelligence Research and Development

View Full Text:  Recommendations-Cloud-AI-RD-Nov2020.pdf

This report is a product of interagency collaboration, led by the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Select Committee on AI and Subcommittee on Machine Learning and AI (MLAI), that is one of several measures responding to the February 11, 2019, Executive Order on Maintaining American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence. The report details four key recommendations for leveraging cloud computing resources for federally funded artificial intelligence (AI) research and development (R&D). Cloud platforms provide robust, agile, reliable, and scalable computing capabilities, which can help accelerate advances in AI. Cloud computing can also democratize access to the powerful computing capabilities needed for many types of AI R&D. This report is another step in the overall Federal Government strategy to position the United States as the world leader in artificial intelligence.

View Full Text:  Recommendations-Cloud-AI-RD-Nov2020.pdf

NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY CAREER AWARENESS WEEK: RESOURCES FOR A CYBERSECURITY CAREER

Information technology (IT) is part of every aspect of modern life. Emerging technologies such as high-speed mobile networking and smart cities promise that cyberspace will continue to offer exceptional benefits to society. However, as society uses IT more there is greater potential for adversaries to create disruption and destruction through malicious cyber activities, making advances in cybersecurity imperative. NITRD works with its member agencies to coordinate cybersecurity research and development. But there is a shortage of qualified cybersecurity workers and the demand is increasing. NITRD’s member agencies are leading efforts to develop cyber expertise and build a workforce capable of facing real-world cybersecurity challenges.

Cybersecurity is one of the fasting growing careers in the U.S. Are you a student or know someone who is interested in a cybersecurity career? Confused on where to start? Wondering what are the options in cybersecurity? Take a look at the extensive amount of information on  the Resources for a Cybersecurity Career webpage as you explore a career in cybersecurity. Check out the programs for K-12, undergraduate and graduate students, and post-graduates! You will find resources for students, educators, and others spanning information about internships, scholarships, schools with cyber programs, cyber camps, and so much more!

Explore the opportunities for innovation and excitement working in cyber!

NITRD'S SPOTLIGHT ON CYBERSECURITY CAREERS

Cybersecurity is a relatively new field especially in light that the global internet did not come into existence as we know it until the 1980’s. Mobile devices accelerated the use of the internet because it became easy to obtain information “on the move”. With this increased use, came risks to personal, corporate, and government data. Internet-of-Things (IoT) brought new objects into the realm of connectivity with its device-to-device communication. With the growing popularity of IoTs, by 2010 “things” soon outplaced people connected to the internet by a ratio of 1.84. This explosion of internet use also provided vulnerability leading to opportunities for nefarious actors, whether working on their own, in criminal organizations, or with rouge governments.

November 9-14, 2020 is National Cybersecurity Career Awareness Week. Check out NITRD's Spotlight on Cybersecurity Careers and see why people in cybersecurity share a passion and a path to an exciting career! Check out the Cyberspace Career Resources: How to be in cybersecurity webpage.

Explore the opportunities for innovation and excitement working in cyber!

AI R&D INVESTMENTS DASHBOARD

View Full Text:  AI R&D INVESTMENTS DASHBOARD

In support of Executive Order 13859, "Maintaining American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence", and The National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan: 2019 Update, NITRD worked with Federal agencies to establish a process to accurately account for AI R&D investments, given that R&D in AI intersects with multiple PCAs. (AI R&D Investments Dashboard, Table 1, footnote 4, gives examples of distinctions between AI and other PCAs.)

The FY2020 budget request set a baseline for reporting and tracking AI R&D investments, consistent with the AI Executive Order. Because of the difference in the reporting process and AI scope newly defined last year, the AI investments reported in the NITRD Supplement to The President's FY2021 Budget are only comparable to other NITRD-reported AI investments.

AI R&D Investments Dashboard Table 1 shows two types of AI investments—those under the AI PCA and those with primary emphases in areas other than AI, which are reported in other PCAs. The FY2021 funding level shown for AI in Table 1 indicates both the nondefense Federal programs directly related to AI ($912 million) and the AI-related efforts reported in the other PCAs ($590.5 million). Together, these total a Federal FY2021 nondefense budget request in AI of $1.5 billion, a 34.4 percent increase over the FY2020 enacted investments and a 54.3 percent increase over the FY2020 budget request. 

For more information on the Federal role in maintaining American leadership in AI, please see Artificial Intelligence for the American People.

View Full Text:  AI R&D INVESTMENTS DASHBOARD