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Press Release: National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology Applauds Bipartisan “Driving U.S. Innovation in Artificial Intelligence” Roadmap

National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology Applauds Bipartisan “Driving U.S. Innovation in Artificial Intelligence” Roadmap  

20 May 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, DC –

As emerging biotechnology and AI/ML converge towards a “ChatGPT moment” for biotech, the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) welcomes the Bipartisan Senate AI Working Group’s Driving U.S. Innovation in Artificial Intelligence roadmap, the result of months of engagement on AI policy in the Senate. Earlier this year, the NSCEB issued a series of recommendations to promote U.S. leadership in AIxBio convergence. 

Last week, the Bipartisan Senate AI Working Group released its Driving U.S. Innovation in Artificial Intelligence roadmap, summarizing the findings of their nine AI Insight Forums and sharing a number of policy priorities for the Senate to consider this year and beyond. 

Led by a group of bipartisan Senators, including NSCEB Commissioner Senator Todd Young (R-IN), the working group presented the roadmap as the foundation of “bipartisan AI legislation, [to] ensure the United States remains at the forefront of innovation in AI, and helps all Americans benefit from the opportunities created by AI.” In this roadmap, the Senate AI Working Group “encourages the relevant committees to consider the recommendations of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology.”

“Grounded by Senator Todd Young’s leadership, the Biotech Commission has been collaborating with the Senate AI Working Group as we have worked in parallel to explore the tremendous opportunity that AI will bring to America. Since the Commission began its work, we have been in dialogue about the specific considerations of the convergence of artificial intelligence and biotechnology, and we are grateful for the Working Group’s partnership.” said NSCEB Chair Jason Kelly. 

Earlier this year, the NSCEB released a series of white papers to address the special technical and policy considerations associated with the intersection of AI and biotechnology (AIxBio), covering the landscape and basic technical concepts of AIxBio, the opportunities and new advances in AI and biotechnology, and the potential risks that AI presents with respect to biosecurity. 

Since then, the Commission has continued to engage with stakeholders across industry and academia to receive feedback on these policy recommendations. 

The Commission will release legislative recommendations later this year which will include proposals to bolster biological data for training advanced AI models, improving ways on how government and industry communicate and collaborate, and conducting on-going risk assessments as these technologies mature.  

Learn more about the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology’s work: 

 

About NSCEB: The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology is a Congressionally mandated commission whose purpose is to advance and secure biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and associated technologies for U.S. national security and to prepare the United States for the age of biotechnology. The Commission is a legislative branch advisory entity and submitted an interim report to the President and the Armed Services Committees in December 2023 and will submit a final report in early 2025, including recommendations for action by Congress and the federal government. The bipartisan Commission is composed of twelve Commissioners with members from both the Senate and the House of Representatives as well as experts from industry, academia, and government. For more information about the Commission, visit https://biotech.senate.gov.