American Leadership in AI Act

This section establishes the 'Center for AI Standards and Innovation' within the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Its purpose is to advance measurement science for AI reliability, robustness, resilience, security, and safety, and to support the development of voluntary best practices and technical standards in collaboration with the private sector, civil society, and federal agencies. The Center will also conduct evaluations and benchmarking of AI capabilities and limitations over time.

This subtitle requires NIST to brief Congress on opportunities for federal support in AI standards development, establish a web portal to inform U.S. industry and agencies about international standardization efforts, and create a pilot program to award grants to eligible entities for hosting AI standards meetings in the U.S. The goal is to enhance U.S. participation and influence in global AI standards.

This section amends the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to require NIST to develop and periodically update voluntary guidance for the development, release, and assessment of AI systems. This guidance will define risk tolerances, categorize communication practices for AI characteristics (like robustness, safety, fairness), and provide recommendations for utilizing these practices, including AI red teaming.

This section establishes the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) to spur innovation, improve access to AI resources for researchers and students, and enhance AI research capacity in the U.S. It creates a Program Management Office within the National Science Foundation (NSF) to oversee NAIRR's day-to-day functions and an Operating Entity to manage its resources, which include computational resources, data, educational tools, and AI testbeds.

This section establishes the 'AI Grand Challenges Program' within the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award prizes for solving or advancing specific, well-defined AI grand challenges in areas like national security, health, energy, and education. It mandates at least one grand challenge for AI-enabled cancer breakthroughs with a minimum prize of $10,000,000. The program aims to stimulate AI R&D and commercialization.

This section establishes a grant program within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to fund research on the use of generative artificial intelligence in health care. Permissible research includes improving practitioner notes, reducing administrative burden, expediting insurance claims, enhancing customer service, and other improvements to health care. Priority is given to entities encouraging adoption, workforce development, mitigating burnout, or improving care for medically underserved populations.

This section establishes a cross-cutting AI research and development program within the Department of Energy (DOE) to advance AI tools, systems, capabilities, and workforce needs for DOE missions. It covers research areas such as AI for large-scale simulations, advanced computing hardware, trustworthy AI, and applications for scientific, energy, and national security challenges. It also mandates the establishment of data center testbeds for energy-efficient AI.

This section directs NIST to develop standards and guidelines, including minimum requirements, for AI systems used or operated by federal agencies or their contractors, excluding national security systems. It also mandates standards for managing AI risks, authenticating synthetic content, and recommends training for agencies procuring AI. NIST will periodically assess and revise these standards.

This subtitle establishes a Chief Artificial Intelligence Officers Council (CAIOC) chaired by the Director of OMB, and mandates that each agency designate a Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (CAIO). The CAIOC will promote AI innovation, oversee compliance, and develop best practices across government. Agency CAIOs will be responsible for responsible AI research, development, acquisition, and use within their respective agencies, including risk management and ensuring compliance with ethical principles.

This section directs NIST to update the National Vulnerability Database to incorporate AI security vulnerabilities and to convene a multi-stakeholder process to consider developing a voluntary system for collecting, reporting, and tracking substantial AI security and safety incidents. This process will establish common definitions, assess usefulness, and identify best practices for reporting such incidents.

This section establishes an 'AI Workforce Research Hub' within the Department of Labor. The Hub, in collaboration with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, and Bureau of Economic Analysis, is tasked with evaluating the impact of AI on the labor market and U.S. workers, producing recurring evaluations, conducting scenario planning, and identifying insights to inform workforce and education policy.

This section amends the NIST Act to require NIST to develop or identify and disseminate resources for small businesses to understand, adopt, or integrate AI. These resources, which include technical standards, best practices, and methodologies, must be generally applicable, technology-neutral, and promote basic understanding of AI use cases. NIST will coordinate with the Small Business Administration for dissemination.

This section amends existing law to create a federal civil cause of action for individuals whose intimate visual depictions are disclosed without consent, or who are the subject of 'intimate digital forgeries' (deepfakes) that are produced, possessed with intent to disclose, disclosed, or solicited without consent. It defines 'intimate digital forgery' as a false, AI-generated intimate visual depiction indistinguishable from an authentic one. Victims can recover liquidated damages (up to $250,000) or actual damages, and courts can order equitable relief and protect privacy.

This subtitle amends existing federal criminal statutes (mail fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, and impersonation of federal officials) to significantly increase penalties when these crimes are committed with the assistance of artificial intelligence. For mail, wire, and bank fraud, the maximum fines are increased to $2,000,000 (from $1,000,000) and imprisonment terms are extended to 20 or 30 years, respectively, if AI is involved. For AI-assisted impersonation of federal officials, the fine can be up to $1,000,000 and imprisonment up to three years.

This section establishes anti-retaliation protections for 'AI whistleblowers'—covered individuals (employees or independent contractors) who report 'AI security vulnerabilities' or 'AI violations' to authorities, participate in investigations, or report internally. It defines an 'AI violation' as a federal law violation related to AI or a failure to respond to substantial dangers posed by AI to public safety, health, or national security. Aggrieved individuals can file complaints with the Secretary of Labor or bring civil actions in federal court, with remedies including reinstatement, double back pay, and compensatory damages. Waivers of these rights are unenforceable.

This section amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a new 'employee cybersecurity education credit' as part of the general business credit. Employers can claim a credit equal to 50% of qualified employee cybersecurity education expenses, up to $5,000 per employee per taxable year. Qualified expenses include amounts paid for certificates or degrees in cybersecurity specialty areas listed in the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework.

This section authorizes the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to make awards for research activities to develop K-12 educational curricula and evaluation methods for AI literacy. Activities include curriculum development, professional learning opportunities for educators, development of evaluation tools, and hands-on learning tools. The goal is to prepare K-12 students and educators for an AI-literate future, recognizing the rapidly evolving nature of AI technology.

This section amends the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 to authorize the NSF Director to make competitive awards to eligible institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations (or consortia) to broaden participation in AI research, education, and workforce development. Eligible institutions include those not in the top 100 for federal R&D expenditures, HBCUs, minority-serving institutions, and Tribal Colleges or Universities. Funds can be used for research programs, faculty development, bridge programs, access to resources, and community building.

This section amends the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 to authorize the NSF Director to support scholarships and fellowships for undergraduate and graduate students in AI-related fields, including those focused on teaching AI or integrating AI into advanced manufacturing and agriculture. Awards cover tuition, fees, stipends, and professional development for up to five years. It also authorizes AI professional development fellowships for students, teachers, faculty, and industry professionals, and an NSF outreach campaign to increase awareness of AI education opportunities.

This section amends the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 to establish up to eight regionally and geographically diverse 'Community College and Area Career and Technical Education Centers of AI Excellence' (Centers of AI Excellence) through the NSF. These Centers will enhance educational outcomes and drive workforce development by integrating AI into teaching, learning, and community engagement. Eligible applicants are community colleges or career/technical schools in partnership with various entities, and they must submit applications detailing their focus areas, capacity, workforce demands, and outreach plans for underrepresented populations.