AI Compute Access is Now a Geopolitical Issue
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US Initiatives
The United States is making strides in democratizing AI access through the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NARR). explains that this initiative, stemming from President Joe Biden's executive order, aims to enhance global competitiveness and equitable access to AI infrastructure within the US 1. The NARR involves collaboration between the National Science Foundation, ten federal agencies, and private sector partners like Amazon, Google, and OpenAI. It provides access to AI models, datasets, and training for US-based researchers, with a focus on safe, secure, and trustworthy AI applications in healthcare and sustainability 1.
To continue leading in AI research and development, we must create opportunities across the country to advance AI innovation and strengthen educational opportunities.
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This initiative is organized into four areas: open AI research, privacy-preserving resources, interoperable software platforms, and educational outreach 1.
European Efforts
Europe is also advancing its AI capabilities with initiatives similar to the US's NARR. The European Commission has launched AI factories to support startups and researchers by providing access to datasets and computing resources, aiming to foster a robust AI industry 2. notes that Europe is balancing regulation with innovation, as seen in the establishment of an AI office to oversee the AI Act and enhance language data availability 2.
If you take nothing else away from this, it's that compute is very clearly a political resource now, in the same way that oil or energy or anything else like that has been for years.
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These efforts highlight the geopolitical significance of AI resources, positioning compute as a critical asset in global technological advancement 2.