Gina M. Raimondo Secretary of Commerce | Official Website
The U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute has announced the formation of a new task force aimed at addressing national security concerns related to artificial intelligence. The Testing Risks of AI for National Security (TRAINS) Taskforce will unite experts from several federal agencies, including Commerce, Defense, Energy, Homeland Security, NSA, and NIH. This initiative seeks to strengthen American leadership in AI innovation by managing the potential risks posed by rapidly evolving AI technology.
The announcement coincides with the United States hosting the first-ever meeting of the International Network of AI Safety Institutes in San Francisco. The TRAINS Taskforce will focus on coordinated research and testing of advanced AI models across key areas such as radiological and nuclear security, chemical and biological security, cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, and conventional military capabilities.
The task force aims to maintain U.S. leadership in AI development while preventing adversaries from misusing American innovation to threaten national security. It is chaired by the U.S. AI Safety Institute with initial representation from various federal agencies.
Each agency involved will contribute its expertise and resources to develop new evaluation methods for AI technologies. They will also collaborate on joint national security risk assessments and conduct red-teaming exercises.
"Enabling safe, secure, and trustworthy AI innovation is not just an economic priority – it's a public safety and national security imperative," said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. She emphasized that establishing the TRAINS Taskforce is crucial for uniting federal resources to tackle challenges posed by this transformative technology.
This effort follows directives from a recent National Security Memorandum on AI safety. The TRAINS Taskforce plans to expand its membership across other federal government sectors as its work progresses.
