SIA Welcomes Executive Order Launching ‘American AI Initiative’

by John Neuffer, President and CEO

Artificial intelligence – enabled by tremendous advances in semiconductor technology – holds the potential to greatly benefit society and strengthen America’s economy, national security, and global technology leadership. We welcome President Trump’s executive order, signed earlier today, launching an “American AI Initiative” and look forward to working with his Administration and Congress to ensure this country remains the world leader in this burgeoning technology.

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The rapid adoption of AI is taking place across a range of sectors, including healthcare, transportation, law enforcement, finance, and manufacturing. And future applications are nearly limitless. According to one estimate, AI could add over $8 trillion to the U.S. economy by 2035, boosting annual growth from 2.6 percent to 4.6 percent.

The United States today leads the world in AI-related technology development and commercial deployment. This is due largely to America’s leading position in semiconductor technology, which is fueled by the U.S. semiconductor industry’s investment of tens of billions of dollars in R&D annually ($36 billion in 2017). In fact, we are one of the most R&D-intensive industries in the world. However, other countries – most notably China – are investing ambitiously to close to AI technology gap.

To sustain America’s leadership position in AI, SIA urges the U.S. government, in partnership with industry, to: 1) fund precompetitive basic research for AI-enabling semiconductor technology; 2) double-down to help in the development of the AI workforce; 3) promote open data policies; and 4) protect security and privacy of sensitive data.

America is home to some of the brightest minds and most innovative companies in the world, and is well-positioned to remain the global leader in AI technology well into the future. We look forward to working with policymakers in Washington to realize AI’s transformative potential and keep America at the head of the class in AI technology.