A Year in the Making: NAIRR Comes Online with $800 Million Budget
It’s been a year since the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) proposal was first announced, and the coalition of U.S. agencies and private partners is finally coming online in pilot form. The program aims to democratize access to AI resources for aspiring researchers and engineers, ensuring that the United States remains competitive with its global rivals.
A Response to the Concentration of AI Resources
The sudden rise of AI in the global tech scene has led to a concentration of resources and expertise among a relatively small group of tech giants and privately funded startups. The Biden administration’s response is to dedicate $800 million per year for three years, subject to congressional approval, to create public-access tools for aspiring AI scientists and engineers.
Partnerships with Federal Agencies and Private Companies
The NAIRR pilot program has partnered with several federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Energy (DOE), NASA, NOAA, DARPA, and others. These partners will provide resources such as datasets, consultation, and expertise to support the research community. Over two dozen major tech companies are also contributing in some way, committing various resources, expertise, free access, and more.
Resources and Expertise Available through NAIRR
While specific resources available through NAIRR have not been listed, the organization will accept applications and proposals, which will be evaluated and assigned resources. Think of it as a grant-making process rather than a free supercomputer. The NSF’s Katie Antypas noted that "NAIRR ‘will provide the research community access to the computing the data, the models, the software, and the training resources that are necessary to advance the AI ecosystem.’"
Addressing Inequality in Access to AI Resources
The NAIRR pilot is designed to address the growing inequality in access to AI resources. Antypas highlighted three examples of researchers who face barriers in accessing these resources:
- A researcher working on large AI models needs access to large-scale computing resources, which are often unavailable.
- A teacher wants to engage students with AI-related homework but lacks resources like virtual notebooks and compute time.
- Someone studying climate and weather events can combine NASA and NOAA datasets with hosted models.
Focus Areas for the Two-Year Pilot Period
The NAIRR pilot will have four focus areas:
- NAIRR Open: Access to diverse AI resources, covering research and projects that don’t fit into specific categories.
- NAIRR Secure: Focused on AI applications requiring privacy and security, such as medical and critical infrastructure, led by the NIH and DOE.
- NAIRR Software: Emphasizes tools, platforms, services, and interoperability.
- NAIRR Classroom: Dedicated to outreach, education, and training.
Addressing Military Research
There is no outwardly military research category, which may surprise some considering the presence of DARPA and DOD in partner agencies. However, this effort is civilian-led by executive agencies, and any military research will likely be siloed within those organizations.
Next Steps for NAIRR
The launch of the NAIRR pilot marks an important step towards democratizing access to AI resources. As the program continues to develop, it will be crucial to monitor its progress and address any challenges that arise. By doing so, the United States can ensure that its research community remains competitive and innovative in the field of artificial intelligence.
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