Notice2023-24216
Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute Consortium
Primary source
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Published
November 2, 2023
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Institute of Standards and Technology
Abstract
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), an agency of the United States Department of Commerce, in support of efforts to create safe and trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI), is establishing the Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute Consortium ("Consortium"). The Consortium will help equip and empower the collaborative establishment of a new measurement science that will enable the identification of proven, scalable, and interoperable techniques and metrics to promote development and responsible use of safe and trustworthy AI, particularly for the most advanced AI systems, such as the most capable foundation models. NIST invites organizations to provide letters of interest describing technical expertise and products, data, and/or models to enable the development and deployment of safe and trustworthy AI systems through the AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF). This notice is the initial step for NIST in collaborating with non-profit organizations, universities, other government agencies, and technology companies to address challenges associated with the development and deployment of AI. Many of these challenges were identified under the Executive Order of October 30, 2023 (The Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence) and the NIST AI RMF Roadmap. Much of this research will center on evaluations of and approaches towards safer, more trustworthy AI systems. Participation in the consortium is open to all interested organizations that can contribute their expertise, products, data, and/or models to the activities of the consortium. Selected participants will be required to enter into a consortium Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with NIST. At NIST's discretion, entities which are not permitted to enter into CRADAs pursuant to law may be allowed to participate in the Consortium pursuant to separate non-CRADA agreement.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 211 (Thursday, November 2, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 211 (Thursday, November 2, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75276-75277]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24216]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute Consortium
AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), an
agency of the United States Department of Commerce, in support of
efforts to create safe and trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI), is
establishing the Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute Consortium
(``Consortium''). The Consortium will help equip and empower the
collaborative establishment of a new measurement science that will
enable the identification of proven, scalable, and interoperable
techniques and metrics to promote development and responsible use of
safe and trustworthy AI, particularly for the most advanced AI systems,
such as the most capable foundation models. NIST invites organizations
to provide letters of interest describing technical expertise and
products, data, and/or models to enable the development and deployment
of safe and trustworthy AI systems through the AI Risk Management
Framework (AI RMF). This notice is the initial step for NIST in
collaborating with non-profit organizations, universities, other
government agencies, and technology companies to address challenges
associated with the development and deployment of AI. Many of these
challenges were identified under the Executive Order of October 30,
2023 (The Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of
Artificial Intelligence) and the NIST AI RMF Roadmap. Much of this
research will center on evaluations of and approaches towards safer,
more trustworthy AI systems. Participation in the consortium is open to
all interested organizations that can contribute their expertise,
products, data, and/or models to the activities of the consortium.
Selected participants will be required to enter into a consortium
Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with NIST. At
NIST's discretion, entities which are not permitted to enter into
CRADAs pursuant to law may be allowed to participate in the Consortium
pursuant to separate non-CRADA agreement.
DATES: The Consortium's collaborative activities will commence as soon
as enough completed and signed letters of interest have been returned
to address all the necessary components and capabilities, but no
earlier than December 4, 2023. NIST will accept letters of interest to
participate in this Consortium on an ongoing basis. NIST will announce
the completion of the selection of participants and inform the public
that it is no longer accepting letters of interest for this project at
<a href="https://www.nist.gov/artificial-intelligence/artificial-intelligence-safety-institute">https://www.nist.gov/artificial-intelligence/artificial-intelligence-safety-institute</a>.
ADDRESSES: Completed letters of interest must be submitted via the
letter of interest webform at <a href="https://www.nist.gov/artificial-intelligence/artificial-intelligence-safety-institute">https://www.nist.gov/artificial-intelligence/artificial-intelligence-safety-institute</a>, by email to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7a2f293b3329333a1413090e541d150c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f4a1a7b5bda7bdb49a9d8780da939b82">[email protected]</span></a>, or via hardcopy to National Institute of Standards and
Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 8900, Gaithersburg, MD 20899.
Organizations whose letters of interest are accepted in accordance with
the process set forth in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this
notice will be asked to sign a consortium Cooperative Research and
Development Agreement (CRADA) with NIST. A consortium CRADA template
will be made available to qualifying applicants.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: J'aime Maynard, Consortia Agreements
Officer, National Institute of Standards and Technology's Technology
Partnerships Office, by telephone at (301) 975-8408, by mail to 100
Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 2200, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, or by electronic
mail to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f4be959d9991dab9958d9a958690b49a9d8780da939b82"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bbf1dad2d6de95f6dac2d5dac9dffbd5d2c8cf95dcd4cd">[email protected]</span></a>. Please direct all media inquiries to
Public Affairs Office (PAO), NIST via email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#eb82859a9e82998e98ab8582989fc58c849d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d8b1b6a9adb1aabdab98b6b1abacf6bfb7ae">[email protected]</span></a> or by
phone at (301) 975-2762.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: NIST supports the United States in developing standards
around emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and
related systems. The NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF)
provides a foundational set of approaches for holistically assessing
risk for the use of AI systems. However, in deploying this framework,
specific improvements in our ability to evaluate and validate AI
systems are necessary, as detailed in the AI RMF roadmap, available at
<a href="https://www.nist.gov/itl/ai-risk-management-framework/roadmap-nist-artificial-intelligence-risk-management-framework-ai">https://www.nist.gov/itl/ai-risk-management-framework/roadmap-nist-artificial-intelligence-risk-management-framework-ai</a>. In addition, The
Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial
Intelligence Executive Order articulated a broad set of priorities
relevant to and directive of NIST's work related to AI safety and
trust. NIST seeks to leverage the additional resources and capabilities
made available through this consortium to meet the requirements of the
Executive Order and fulfill those priorities in the future.
Process: NIST is soliciting responses from all sources of relevant
technical capabilities (see below) to enter into a consortium
Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to provide
technical expertise and products, data, and/or models to enable safe
and trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) systems. The Consortium
will help enable the identification of proven, scalable, and
interoperable techniques and metrics to promote development of
trustworthy AI and its responsible use. The full project can be viewed
at: <a href="https://www.nist.gov/artificial-intelligence/artificial-intelligence-safety-institute">https://www.nist.gov/artificial-intelligence/artificial-intelligence-safety-institute</a>. The project is in support of the AI RMF
roadmap <a href="https://www.nist.gov/itl/ai-risk-management-framework/roadmap-nist-artificial-intelligence-risk-management-framework-ai">https://www.nist.gov/itl/ai-risk-management-framework/roadmap-nist-artificial-intelligence-risk-management-framework-ai</a> and The Safe,
Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence
Executive Order.
Interested parties can submit a letter of interest by visiting the
project website at <a href="https://www.nist.gov/artificial-intelligence/artificial-intelligence-safety-institute">https://www.nist.gov/artificial-intelligence/artificial-intelligence-safety-institute</a> and completing the letter of
interest webform; alternatively, parties can answer the questions
detailed in LETTER OF INTEREST, below, and send via email or hardcopy
(for reference, see ADDRESSES section above). NIST will contact
interested parties if there are questions regarding the responsiveness
of the letters of interest to the project objective or requirements
identified below. NIST will select participants who have submitted
complete letters of interest on a first
[[Page 75277]]
come, first served basis. There may be continuing opportunity to
participate even after initial activity commences for participants who
were not selected initially or have submitted the letter of interest
after the selection process. Selected participants will be required to
enter into a consortium CRADA with NIST. At NIST's discretion, entities
which are not permitted to enter into CRADAs pursuant to law may be
allowed to participate in the Consortium pursuant to separate non-CRADA
agreement.
Project Objective: Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and
applications are growing at an unprecedented pace, changing our way of
life, and having significant impacts on society and all sectors of the
economy. Yet, the potential technical and societal benefits and risks
of AI require much closer examination and a more complete
understanding. Aligning AI with our societal norms and values and
keeping the public safe requires a broad human-centered focus, specific
policies, processes, and guardrails informed by community stakeholders
across various levels of our society, and bold commitment from the
public sector.
To manage the broad risks of AI technologies, help to protect the
public and our planet, reduce market uncertainties, and encourage even
more extraordinary AI technological innovations, the National Institute
of Standards and Technology (NIST) is expanding its AI measurement
efforts by harnessing the broader community's interests and
capabilities. NIST aims to help enable the identification of proven,
scalable, and interoperable measurements and methodologies to promote
development of trustworthy AI and its responsible use. This is a
critical challenge at a pivotal time--not only for AI technologists but
for society.
Building upon its long track record of working with the private and
public sectors and its history of reliable and practical measurement
and standards-oriented solutions, NIST seeks research collaborators who
can support this vital undertaking. Specifically, NIST looks to
<bullet> Create a convening space for collaborators to have an
informed dialogue and enable sharing of information and knowledge
<bullet> Engage in collaborative research and development through
shared projects
<bullet> Enable assessment and evaluation of test systems and
prototypes to inform future AI measurement efforts
To create a lasting approach for continued joint research and
development, NIST will engage stakeholders via this consortium. The
work of the consortium will be open and transparent and provide a hub
for interested parties to work together in building and maturing a
measurement science for Trustworthy and Responsible AI. Consortium
members will be expected to contribute:
<bullet> Technical expertise in one or more of the following areas
<bullet> Data and data documentation
<bullet> AI Metrology
<bullet> AI Governance
<bullet> AI Safety
<bullet> Trustworthy AI
<bullet> Responsible AI
<bullet> AI system design and development
<bullet> AI system deployment
<bullet> AI Red Teaming
<bullet> Human-AI Teaming and Interaction
<bullet> Test, Evaluation, Validation and Verification methodologies
<bullet> Socio-technical methodologies
<bullet> AI Fairness
<bullet> AI Explainability and Interpretability
<bullet> Workforce skills
<bullet> Psychometrics
<bullet> Economic analysis
<bullet> Models, data and/or products to support and demonstrate
pathways to enable safe and trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI)
systems through the AI risk management framework
<bullet> Infrastructure support for consortium projects
<bullet> Facility space and handling of hosting consortium researchers,
workshops and conferences
This project is in service of the priorities and taskings defined
in The Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial
Intelligence Executive Order. Additionally, some of the outcomes of
this project will be in support of research and development to advance
the AI RMF roadmap (<a href="https://www.nist.gov/itl/ai-risk-management-framework/roadmap-nist-artificial-intelligence-risk-management-framework-ai">https://www.nist.gov/itl/ai-risk-management-framework/roadmap-nist-artificial-intelligence-risk-management-framework-ai</a>). The consortium will be responsible for an array of
efforts related to safe and trustworthy AI, including to:
1. Develop new guidelines, tools, methods, protocols and best
practices to facilitate the evolution of industry standards for
developing or deploying AI in safe, secure, and trustworthy ways
2. Develop guidance and benchmarks for identifying and evaluating
AI capabilities, with a focus on capabilities that could potentially
cause harm
3. Develop approaches to incorporate secure-development practices
for generative AI, including special considerations for dual-use
foundation models, including
a. guidance related to assessing and managing the safety, security,
and trustworthiness of models and related to privacy-preserving machine
learning;
b. guidance to ensure the availability of testing environments
4. Develop and ensure the availability of testing environments
5. Develop guidance, methods, skills and practices for successful
red-teaming and privacy-preserving machine learning
6. Develop guidance and tools for authenticating digital content
7. Develop guidance and criteria for AI workforce skills, including
risk identification and management, test, evaluation, validation, and
verification (TEVV), and domain-specific expertise
8. Explore the complexities at the intersection of society and
technology, including the science of how humans make sense of and
engage with AI in different contexts
9. Develop guidance for understanding and managing the
interdependencies between and among AI actors along the lifecycle
Requirements for Letters of Interest:
Each responding organization's letter of interest should include
the address, point of contact, and following information:
1. The role(s) the organization will play in the consortium
efforts.
2. The specific expertise will they intend to bring to the
consortium.
3. The products, services, data, or other technical capabilities
will they use in consortium activities.
Letters of interest should not include proprietary information.
NIST will not treat any information provided in response to this notice
as proprietary information.
NIST cannot guarantee that all submissions will be utilized, or the
products proposed by respondents will be used in consortium activities.
Each prospective participant will be expected to work collaboratively
with NIST staff and other project participants under the terms of the
consortium CRADA.
(Authority: 15 U.S.C. 3710a, 15 U.S.C. 278h-1, and 15 U.S.C. 272b
and 272c)
Alicia Chambers,
NIST Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2023-24216 Filed 11-1-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P
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