Global technology trade association ITI and Americans for Responsible Innovation (ARI) have led a coalition of over 60 companies, universities, and non-profits in urging Congress to pass legislation authorizing the U.S. AI Safety Institute within the National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST) before the end of the current congressional session.

The letter, endorsed by ITI, ARI, and a diverse group of multi-industry organizations, emphasizes the importance of maintaining responsible AI efforts at NIST as other nations establish their own AI safety institutes. "As other governments quickly move ahead, Members of Congress can ensure that the U.S. does not get left behind in the global AI race by permanently authorizing the AI Safety Institute and providing certainty for its critical role in advancing U.S. AI innovation and adoption," stated ITI President and CEO Jason Oxman. He added, "We urge Congress to heed today’s call to action from industry, civil society, and academia to pass necessary bipartisan legislation before the end of the year."

ARI President Brad Carson highlighted the need for government leadership in developing voluntary standards and testing crucial for AI safety and resilience. "The U.S. AI Safety Institute is spearheading that effort, and authorizing their work under NIST is an easy, bipartisan step forward Congress can take right now," Carson said. He emphasized that after extensive efforts to educate members on AI issues, this legislation represents "the single most important AI policy lawmakers can pass before the end of the year."

Bipartisan bills have been advanced by both Senate Commerce Committee and House Science Committee to authorize activities of the U.S. AI Safety Institute: S. 4178 - Future of AI Innovation Act and H.R. 9497 - AI Advancement and Reliability Act. Both chambers have made significant strides on AI matters during this session with initiatives such as all-Senator AI Insight Forums organized by Bipartisan Senate AI Working Group along with forming a bipartisan House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence.