The U.S. Department of Commerce, represented by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the U.S. Department of Energy have announced a memorandum of understanding signed earlier this year. This agreement focuses on collaboration in safety research, testing, and evaluation of advanced artificial intelligence models and systems.

This partnership is part of the Biden-Harris Administration's strategy to ensure safe, secure, and trustworthy AI development. It follows the release of a National Security Memorandum on AI that designates the U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (US AISI) within NIST as a central hub for AI safety efforts.

"By empowering our teams to work together, this partnership with the Department of Energy will undoubtedly help the U.S. AI Safety Institute and NIST advance the science of AI safety," said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. "Safety is key to continued innovation in AI, and we have no time to waste in working together across government to develop robust research, testing, and evaluations to protect and advance essential national security priorities."

The agreement facilitates joint research efforts and information sharing between US AISI, NIST, DOE, and its National Laboratories.

“There’s no question that AI is the next frontier for scientific and clean energy breakthroughs,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Across the federal government we are committed to advancing AI safety and today’s partnership ensures that Americans can confidently benefit from AI-powered innovation and prosperity for years to come.”

Through this memorandum, both departments aim to evaluate AI models' impact on public safety concerning critical infrastructure, energy security, and national security. The focus includes classified evaluations of chemical and biological risks posed by advanced AI models as well as privacy-enhancing technologies protecting personal data.

These initiatives combined with DOE's AI testbeds are expected to establish a foundation for a safe future in artificial intelligence.