15 U.S. Code § 9442 - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Artificial Intelligence Center

(a) In general

The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (hereafter referred to as “the Administrator”) shall establish,[1] a Center for Artificial Intelligence (hereafter referred to as “the Center”).

(b) Center goals

The goals of the Center shall be to—

(1) coordinate and facilitate the scientific and technological efforts related to artificial intelligence across the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and

(2) expand external partnerships, and build workforce proficiency to effectively transition artificial intelligence research and applications to operations.

(c) Comprehensive program

Through the Center, the Administrator shall implement a comprehensive program to improve the use of artificial intelligence systems across the agency in support of the mission of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

(d) Center priorities

The priorities of the Center shall be to—

(1) coordinate and facilitate artificial intelligence research and innovation, tools, systems, and capabilities across the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;

(2) establish data standards and develop and maintain a central repository for agency-wide artificial intelligence applications;

(3) accelerate the transition of artificial intelligence research to applications in support of the mission of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;

(4) develop and conduct training for the workforce of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration related to artificial intelligence research and application of artificial intelligence for such agency;

(5) facilitate partnerships between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other public sector organizations, private sector organizations, and institutions of higher education for research, personnel exchange, and workforce development with respect to artificial intelligence systems; and

(6) make data of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration accessible, available, and ready for artificial intelligence applications.

(e) Stakeholder engagement

In carrying out the activities authorized in this section, the Administrator shall—

(1) collaborate with a diverse set of stakeholders including private sector entities and institutions of higher education;

(2) leverage the collective body of research on artificial intelligence and machine learning; and

(3) engage with relevant Federal agencies, research communities, and potential users of data and methods made available through the Center.

(f) Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this section $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2021.

(g) Protection of national security interests

(1) In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense as appropriate, may withhold models or data used by the Center if the Administrator determines doing so to be necessary to protect the national security interests of the United States.

(2) Rule of construction

Nothing in this section shall be construed to supersede any other provision of law governing the protection of the national security interests of the United States.

(Pub. L. 116–283, div. E, title LIII, § 5303, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4539.)