CNAS Joins Consortium Dedicated to Advancing Artificial Intelligence Safety

Washington, February 8, 2024—The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) is pleased to announce its participation in the AI Safety Institute Consortium (AISIC), which was established by the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in November 2023. The new consortium will work to develop innovative methods for evaluating and enhancing the safety and trustworthiness of artificial intelligence systems.

“As AI systems become more powerful and play a greater role in society, it is essential to ensure that they are safe, trustworthy, and reliable,” said Paul Scharre, CNAS Executive Vice President and Director of Studies. “We are pleased to have the opportunity to collaborate with NIST and others through the AI Safety Institute Consortium. To fully reap the benefits of AI, we must advance the science of measuring and evaluating AI safety.” 

“The U.S. government has a significant role to play in setting the standards and developing the tools we need to mitigate the risks and harness the immense potential of artificial intelligence. President Biden directed us to pull every lever to accomplish two key goals: set safety standards and protect our innovation ecosystem. That’s precisely what the U.S. AI Safety Institute Consortium is set up to help us do,” said U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. “Through President Biden’s landmark Executive Order, we will ensure America is at the front of the pack—and by working with this group of leaders from industry, civil society, and academia, together we can confront these challenges to develop the measurements and standards we need to maintain America’s competitive edge and develop AI responsibly.”

AISIC consists of more than 200 research organizations, civil society groups, leading AI companies and start-ups, and academic teams that are on the frontlines of AI technology. The consortium also involves state and local governments, nonprofits, and partnerships with similar international organizations focused on setting global safety standards for AI.   

CNAS looks forward to actively participating in the consortium and contributing to ongoing efforts to strengthen the foundations for trustworthy and responsible AI systems.  

To learn more about AISIC and its members, click here.

For media inquiries, please contact Alexa Whaley at awhaley@cnas.org.