[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 185 (Wednesday, September 23, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59829-59830]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20922]
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NATIONAL SECURITY COMMISSION ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
[Docket No.: 09-2020-01]
Solicitation of Written Comments by the National Security
Commission on Artificial Intelligence
AGENCY: National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence.
ACTION: Request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence
(``the Commission) is publishing this notice to request comments from
small- and medium-sized AI firms to help the Commission understand
different views on working with the federal government. Responses will
assist in identifying critical areas for improvement and recommended
changes in the government's approach to technology procurement and
support for commercial innovation.
DATES: Comment Date: The Commission requests comments from qualified
parties on or before October 23, 2020.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. 09-2020-
01, by one of the following methods:
Email: inquiry@nscai.gov. Please include the docket number
in the subject line of the message.
Mail: National Security Commission on Artificial
Intelligence, Attn: RFI COMMENT--Docket No. 09-2020-01, 2530 Crystal
Drive, Box 45, Arlington, VA 22202.
Fax: +1-571-778-5049. Please include the docket number on
the fax cover page.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, email is the
Commission's primary method of receiving public comment. All
submissions received must include the docket number. If the Commission
cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot
contact you for clarification, the Commission may not be able to
consider your comment. Late comments will be considered as time
permits. Please note, any comments received by the Commission may be
treated as public documents, be published on the Commission's website,
or be included with its reports and/or recommendations. Based on the
inputs from responders, the Commission may select particular responders
for follow up conversations with the Commission's special project on
public private partnerships. Submitters should be aware that the
Commission is subject to the Freedom of Information Act and will
transfer official records, including comments received, to the National
Archives and Records Administration upon termination of the Commission.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general inquiries, submission
process questions, or any additional information about this request for
comments, please contact Tara Rigler by email at inquiry@nscai.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2019, Sec. 1051, Public Law 115-232, 132 Stat. 1636, 1962-65
(2018), Congress directed the Commission to consider public-private
partnerships relative to the competitiveness of the United States in
AI, machine learning, and other associated technologies. In accordance
with this direction, the Commission established a special project on
public-private partnerships. The Commission has engaged stakeholders
from across industry, academia, government, and civil society with the
following objectives: (1) Assess the relationship between the National
Security Innovation Base (NSIB) and the United States Government; and
(2) Identify options for improving cooperation between the NSIB and the
United States Government to increase the well-being of our citizens,
strengthen the nation's entrepreneurial ecosystems, and protect the
nation's security.
This research has informed the Commission's approach from the
outset and is reflected in one of the seven consensus principles
outlined in the Interim Report, which states: ``Private sector leaders
and government officials must build a shared sense of responsibility
for the welfare and security of the American people.'' In addition,
these engagements have also influenced recommendations in the
Commission's First and Second Quarter memorandums. The Commission's
Interim Report, as well as the First and Second Quarter
recommendations, can be found on the Commission's website at https://www.nscai.gov/reports. Moving towards its final report, due in March
2021, the Commission now seeks input from small- and medium-sized AI
firms on methods and means by which the Government should engage with
the private sector and bolster commercial AI innovation.
Instructions
Respondents may choose to comment on one or all of the topic areas
listed below. Please note that only comments received from firms that
meet the small
[[Page 59830]]
business size standard for NAICS codes 541715 and 611420 will be
considered under this request for comments. Firms that do not fit the
NAICS code or size standard but wish to comment may do so via the
Commission's general request for public comment, 85 FR 32055, https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2020-11453, which solicits feedback on the
various other efforts associated with our mandate.
Topic Areas for Comment and Recommendations
The following list of topics represents various areas about which
the Commission seeks comments. It is not intended to limit topics that
may be addressed by respondents, but rather focus attention on key
areas the Commission has identified as relevant to catalyzing AI
innovation, expanding the national security innovation base, and making
it easier for firms to do business with the federal government. While
the Commission welcomes comments on obstacles and barriers in the
current system, it will prioritize inputs relative to these topics that
make specific recommendations in any or all of the following areas:
Statute, regulation, policy, budget, organization, and culture.
Specific Questions To Address
What are the challenges or obstacles you face in seeking
to do business with the Federal Government, to include scaling
successful solutions? What changes could be made to reduce or remove
those challenges or obstacles?
How do you weigh the tradeoffs between accepting financing
from U.S. firms versus foreign firms? What role could the U.S.
Government play in connecting U.S. firms with trusted investors in the
United States and allied countries?
When is the Federal Government a compelling customer? When
is it not? What steps could the Federal Government take to become a
more compelling customer?
How could the government better communicate (1) national
security challenges to industry and (2) opportunities for industry to
demonstrate and iterate potential solutions? How could the government
structure engagements with industry to foster innovative and unexpected
solutions?
If your firm were to initiate or expand its national
security or national interest work, what large capital investments over
the next 24 months would your firm consider making in the United
States? How much financial support and in what form (e.g., non-dilutive
capital, loan guarantees, equity stakes, or other financial
instruments) would be required from the U.S. government to undertake
those investments?
What would you hope to gain from temporary talent
exchanges between the Federal Government and industry? What are the
challenges or obstacles in conducting such exchanges and how would you
recommend they be overcome?
How can industry and the Federal Government better
collaborate through all stages of product development to safeguard
against bias in AI systems?
How can the Federal Government incentivize responsible AI
development through acquisition?\1\
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\1\ In the Second Quarter Recommendations Memo, the Commission
proposed ``Key Considerations for Responsible Development & Fielding
of AI'' and recommended standards and practices that would apply
both to systems developed by departments and agencies, as well as
those that are acquired (including Commercial off-the-shelf systems
or those developed by contractors). See Key Considerations for
Responsible Development & Fielding of Artificial Intelligence,
National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, pg. 6 (July
22, 2020), https://www.nscai.gov/reports.
Dated: September 17, 2020.
Michael Gable,
Chief of Staff.
[FR Doc. 2020-20922 Filed 9-22-20; 8:45 am]
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