National AI Research Resource

Artificial intelligence requires vast amounts of computing power, data, and expertise to train and deploy the massive machine learning models behind the most advanced research. But access is increasingly out of reach for most colleges and universities. A National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) would provide academic and non-profit researchers with the compute power and government datasets needed for education and research. By democratizing access and equity for all colleges and universities, an NRC has the potential not only to unleash a string of advancements in AI, but to help ensure the U.S. maintains its leadership and competitiveness on the global stage.

Why a National AI Research Resource
is necessary

White Paper

Building a National AI Research Resource
White Paper

In 2019, Stanford HAI co-directors Fei-Fei Li and John Etchemendy were one of the first to issue a call for the U.S. government to create a National AI Research Resource. They envisioned the NRC would be a close partnership between academia, government, industry, and civil society to provide researchers equitable access to high-end computational resources, large-scale government datasets in a secure cloud environment, and necessary expertise to benefit from a NRC. Stanford HAI led efforts with 22 top computer science universities and a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers proposing legislation to bring the NRC to fruition. On January 1, 2021, the U.S. Congress authorized the National AI Research Resource Task Force Act as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021.

Feedback

Feedback on the National Artificial Intelligence Research Task Force’s Interim Report
White Paper

Stanford HAI submitted this response in July 2022 to support the work of the National Science Foundation and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to implement the initial findings and recommendations of the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) Task Force. We concurred with a large majority of recommendations in the interim report that aligned very closely with our white paper and provided a set of feedback, including limiting NAIRR access to researchers at U.S. higher education institutions during the first three years of a pilot run, adopting a dual investment strategy with regard to computing infrastructure, and adopting a tiered model for the NAIRR proposal review and ethics review.

Learn more about the National AI Research Resource

Cloud graphic in dark colors

We Must Pass the Create AI Act

by Russell Wald
August 7th, 2023

Congress has introduced a bill that would create resources for academics in AI. This bill is necessary for America’s AI...

National AI Research Resource in the News

Do we really want Facebook and Amazon to rule AI?
The Hill | November 8, 2021

Eye On A.I. Episode #087
Eye On A.I. | November 7, 2021

Driving AI innovation through a National Research Cloud
GCN | October 12, 2021

America's global leadership in human-centered AI can't come from industry alone
The Hill | July 6, 2021

U.S. Law Sets Stage for Boost to Artificial Intelligence Research
Science | January 19, 2021

Defense Bill Boosts Federal AI Research and Development
Wall Street Journal | January 8, 2021

A public research cloud would stimulate innovation
Financial Times | October 19, 2020

Universities and Tech Giants Back National Cloud Computing Project
The New York Times | June 30, 2020