White House to create artificial intelligence committee

The White House announced Thursday that it will establish a panel of federal government officials to look at artificial intelligence (AI) issues.

The Trump administration announced the new Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence on the same day that it held a major AI summit with business leaders in Washington.

The AI panel will include officials from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the National Science Foundation and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

The committee’s representatives will also include officials from the National Security Council (NSC), the Office of the Federal Chief Information Officer and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

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The panel aims to examine U.S. priorities and investments on AI development, according to prepared remarks from Michael Kratsios, Deputy Assistant to the President for Technology Policy.

The White House’s moves come after prodding from the technology industry for the administration to offer more support for the development of AI technology.

Some have expressed worries about China’s rapid advancement in AI technology, and have urged the U.S. to make the area a bigger focus.

American tech companies have said they are concerned the U.S. could eventually cede its dominant position in AI markets if the White House did not step in to help the industry.

Tech figures welcomed the White House’s new efforts on the topic Thursday.

“Today’s White House meeting is critical to ensuring the potential of AI is achieved and advanced in a fashion that is broadly beneficial to Americans,” said Dean Garfield, the President of Information Technology Industry Council, a lobbying group for major technology firms.

“The White House’s new artificial intelligence advisory committee is a great first step to forge better collaboration between industry, government, and academia.”