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AI Research

Illustration that shows an outline of a face and then icons to represent different areas of AI including heart (health), lock (cyber), windmills (energy), steering wheel (cars) and manufacturing arm
Credit: N. Hanacek/NIST

Artificial Intelligence: Fundamental and Applied Research and Standards 

NIST develops tools to measure and understand the capabilities and limitations of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. NIST’s role in AI is to develop the foundational and applied research that leads to trustworthy AI systems. NIST works with the AI community to establish the technical requirements needed to cultivate the trust that AI systems are accurate and reliable, safe and secure, explainable, and free from bias. NIST is also looking to future AI computing paradigms beyond the current computing architectures. 

In FY 2018, NIST initiated the Fundamental and Applied Research and Standards for AI Technologies (FARSAIT) program, which is designed to advance the fundamental and applied AI research at NIST. 

FARSAIT’s fundamental AI research aims to develop a metrologist’s guide to AI systems that addresses the complex intertwinement of different aspects of trustworthy AI as well as terminology and taxonomy as it relates to the several layers of the AI space. The guide will consider the impact on social norms, policymakers, AI measurement, and AI development and deployment. 

FARSAIT’s applied AI research promotes applying AI techniques to NIST research programs in areas including advanced materials discovery, robotic systems in manufacturing environments, and wireless networked control systems.

To ensure technical standards reflect Federal priorities for innovation, public trust, and confidence in systems that use AI technologies, NIST is participating in the development of international standards to promote U.S. competitiveness.

Funding opportunities are available through grants and cooperative agreements via the Measurement Science and Engineering (MSE) Research Grant Program.

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Created March 31, 2020, Updated November 15, 2022