NSF initiative aims for AI-readiness

The U.S. National Science Foundation announced a new funding opportunity as part of an effort to enable all Americans to understand, apply and create with artificial intelligence. The NSF TechAccess: AI-Ready America (NSF AI-Ready America) initiative aims to expand access to AI knowledge, tools, training and capacity building so all Americans can participate in and benefit from the AI economy.

As a first step, NSF and federal partners, the Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA), the Department of Labor and the Small Business Administration are releasing a funding opportunity to establish AI-ready coordination hubs in every U.S. state and territory.

The NSF AI-Ready America initiative is designed to close the gap between the nation's AI capabilities and the workforce, businesses and communities that need to use them. The initiative targets three areas where that gap is widest:

• expanding AI literacy and applied skills across the American workforce
• equipping small businesses and local governments with the tools and technical assistance to adopt AI
• building hands-on learning pathways, including internships and project-based programs, that translate AI skills into real-world application. 

"America's AI competitiveness depends on a strong research and development ecosystem paired with access to advanced science and technology knowledge for our current and future workforce," said Brian Stone, performing the duties of the NSF director. "NSF AI-Ready America provides that foundation, giving workers, businesses and communities in every state and territory the tools and knowledge to advance AI together."

The initiative will operate through a network of state and territory-based coordination hubs, up to 56 in total, covering all U.S. states, territories and the District of Columbia, selected through three rounds of competition. Each hub will connect local partners, coordinate deployment and scale proven approaches based on the priorities of state and local stakeholders. NSF will invest up to $1 million annually per hub over three years, with the possibility of a fourth year for hubs demonstrating continued need during transition.

NSF plans to release a funding opportunity in the future to select a national coordination lead who will facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing among the coordination hubs. NSF also anticipates issuing AI-Ready Catalyst award competitions focused on a series of topics to pilot and scale innovative approaches that address critical AI readiness needs.

Responses to the coordination hubs funding opportunity are due by June 23.