National Security Commission Chair Urges Global AI Recruitment

The U.S. should recruit global talent to ensure it keeps its advantage with artificial intelligence technology, National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI) Chairman Eric Schmidt told the House Intelligence and Emerging Threats Subcommittee on Thursday. Chairman James Langevin, D-R.I., questioned whether limitations on foreigners studying in the U.S. plays into China’s hands, since workforce talent determines a country’s AI development. Many Chinese graduate students are responsible or partly responsible for the top academic papers on AI, Schmidt said. He recommended recruiting top talent from all countries and working to keep them in the U.S., producing research and helping create defense companies: “I’d much rather have them creating successes in America.” Responding to Langevin about AI investment, Schmidt said the U.S. isn’t overinvested in anything AI-related but underinvested in underlying infrastructure. NSCAI Commissioner Mignon Clyburn noted the commission’s first-quarter recommendations are filled with opportunities for the federal government to embrace AI as a “way of life, a way of your job” and a national strategic priority. Rep. Elisa Slotkin, D-Mich., asked about a structural change to ensure these recommendations and innovation are incorporated. NSCAI Vice Chairman Robert Work noted the commission recommended a technological steering group with intelligence and defense officials to examine how to integrate technology for the military’s advantage. Rep. Anthony Brown, D-Md., drew attention to the report’s recognition that AI needs to account for racial diversity, citing his concerns about bias. AI algorithms need to be built by design to avoid racial bias issues, said NSCAI Commissioner Jose-Marie Griffiths. She recommended R&D for algorithm development.