US NSF Launches National AI Research Resource Pilot

In a major stride toward building a shared national research infrastructure, the US National Science Foundation has launched the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource pilot program with significant support from NVIDIA. The initiative aims to broaden access to the tools needed to power responsible AI discovery and innovation. It was announced in partnership with 10 other federal agencies as well as private-sector, nonprofit, and philanthropic organizations.

“The breadth of partners that have come together for this pilot underscores the urgency of developing a National AI Research Resource for the future of AI in America,” said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. “By investing in AI research through the NAIRR pilot, the United States unleashes discovery and impact and bolsters its global competitiveness.” NVIDIA’s commitment of $30 million in technology contributions over two years is a key factor in enlarging the scale of the pilot, fueling the potential for broader achievements and accelerating the momentum toward full-scale implementation.

“The NAIRR is a vision of a national research infrastructure that will provide access to computing, data, models, and software to empower researchers and communities,” said Katie Antypas, director of the Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure at the NSF. “Our primary goals for the NAIRR pilot are to support fundamental AI research and domain-specific research applying AI, reach broader communities, particularly those currently unable to participate in the AI innovation ecosystem, and refine the design for the future full NAIRR,” Antypas added.

As part of this national endeavor, the NAIRR pilot brings together a coalition of government partners, showcasing a unified approach to advancing AI research. Its partners include the US National Science Foundation, US Department of Agriculture, US Department of Energy, US Department of Veterans Affairs, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, US Patent and Trade Office and the US Department of Defense. The NAIRR pilot builds on the United States’ rich history of leading large-scale scientific endeavors, such as the creation of the internet.