S4178-118

Reported

To establish artificial intelligence standards, metrics, and evaluation tools, to support artificial intelligence research, development, and capacity building activities, to promote innovation in the artificial intelligence industry by ensuring companies of all sizes can succeed and thrive, and for other purposes.

118th Congress Introduced Apr 18, 2024

Analysis under review: This bill has generated analysis that may be too generic or incomplete. Clause-level evidence remains available below.

Summary

What This Bill Does

Creates an AI Safety Institute at NIST to develop voluntary best practices, establish AI testbeds at national laboratories, create standards for AI assessment, and coordinate federal AI safety efforts.

Who Benefits and How

AI developers benefit from clear voluntary standards and access to federal testbeds. The public benefits from improved AI safety evaluation tools. National security benefits from better AI assurance capabilities.

Who Bears the Burden and How

NIST must establish and staff the AI Safety Institute. DOE national labs must develop AI testbeds. Federal agencies must coordinate on AI standards and evaluation.

Key Provisions

  • Creates AI Safety Institute at NIST within 1 year
  • Authorizes AI testbeds at DOE national laboratories
  • Develops voluntary AI assessment best practices
  • Creates AI red-teaming and blue-teaming capabilities
  • Establishes AI standards coordination across agencies
  • Requires workforce development for AI safety research

Evidence Chain:

This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers.

At a Glance

What This Bill Does

Establishes AI safety standards, creates an AI Safety Institute at NIST, authorizes AI testbeds, and develops frameworks for responsible AI development

Who Benefits

  • AI developers
  • National security
  • AI researchers

Who Bears Costs

  • NIST
  • DOE
  • NSF

Key Policy Areas

Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Science, Standards

Primary Purpose

Establishes AI safety standards, creates an AI Safety Institute at NIST, authorizes AI testbeds, and develops frameworks for responsible AI development

Policy Domains

Artificial Intelligence Technology Science Standards

Legislative Strategy

"Establish federal AI safety infrastructure through voluntary standards and testing capabilities"

Legislative Progress

Reported
Introduced Committee Passed
Dec 18, 2024

Reported by Ms. Cantwell, with an amendment

Apr 18, 2024

Ms. Cantwell (for herself, Mr. Young, Mr. Hickenlooper, and Mrs. …

Apr 18, 2024

Ms. Cantwell (for herself, Mr. Young, Mr. Hickenlooper, Mrs. Blackburn, …

Stakeholder Effects

cui bono?

How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.

Government
21 mentions across 20 clauses
+5 positive -16 negative

AI Safety Institute and NIST leadership, Department of Energy and National Laboratories, Federal agencies hosting AI fellows

NIST AI Safety Institute faces effects in multiple directions

Positive-direction: NIST Foundation and standards development, NIST and AI technical workforce, NIST and measurement science researchers, NSF and DOE research programs

Negative-direction: AI Safety Institute and NIST leadership, Department of Energy and National Laboratories, Federal agencies hosting AI fellows, Federal agencies with AI policies, Federal data agencies, Federal data-holding agencies, GAO, NIST, NIST and DOE, NIST and DOE standards offices, NIST and testbed program managers, NSF and NIST, State Department and Commerce Department

Technology
15 mentions across 15 clauses
+15 positive

AI and quantum computing companies, AI developers needing training data, AI developers seeking safety guidance

Research & Science
6 mentions across 5 clauses
+4 positive -2 negative

AI fellows and fellowship programs, AI research entities receiving federal funding, Allied nation research institutions

Positive-direction: Allied nation research institutions, Materials science and AI researchers, Materials scientists and AI researchers, US AI researchers and academic institutions

Negative-direction: AI fellows and fellowship programs, AI research entities receiving federal funding

Manufacturing
2 mentions across 2 clauses
+2 positive

Advanced manufacturing companies, Advanced manufacturing sector

Education
1 mention across 1 clause
+1 positive

Academic institutions

32/34
sections analyzed
Full impact breakdown

Bill Structure & Actor Mappings

Who is "The Secretary" in each section?

Domains
AI Standards
Actor Mappings
"the_under_secretary"
→ Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology
Domains
AI Research
Actor Mappings
"the_secretary"
→ Secretary of Energy

Key Definitions

Terms defined in this bill

2 terms
"" §AI_blue_teaming

"" §artificial_intelligence

We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.

Learn more about our methodology