President Biden signed an executive order on Tuesday that aims to prioritize both national security and climate change while expediting the development of large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in the United States.
In a statement from the White House, Biden highlighted that the executive order will speed up the construction of next-generation AI infrastructure in America, focusing on economic competitiveness, national security, AI safety, and clean energy. It instructs the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy to allow private sector companies to build frontier AI infrastructure on federal sites rapidly and at a large scale.
“The United States is leading the world in AI innovation. Advanced AI technologies have significant implications for national security and the potential to enhance lives, from improving healthcare to tackling climate change. However, we must not be complacent in our leadership,” Biden stated. “We will ensure America remains at the forefront of technological advancements, without compromising environmental standards and our commitment to clean air and water.”
Amazon Web Services data center is seen on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, in Boardman, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)
The executive order will ensure that the necessary infrastructure for advanced AI operations, such as large-scale data centers and clean power facilities, can be swiftly and extensively developed in the United States. Biden emphasized that these efforts will accelerate the transition to clean energy responsibly and without imposing new costs on American families.
According to Biden, constructing AI infrastructure domestically is crucial for national security as the capabilities of AI technology continue to expand. Having domestic data centers for training and operating advanced AI models will help safeguard the development of AI, utilize AI for national security purposes, and prevent adversaries from exploiting powerful systems that could jeopardize military and national security.
“It will also help prevent America from growing dependent on other countries to access powerful AI tools,” he added.
Vice President Harris, who attended the first-ever global AI summit hosted in London in November 2023, expressed that the significant energy demands of large-scale AI operations present an opportunity to advance American leadership in clean energy technology, benefitting the future economy. By leveraging federal resources to expedite and scale AI operations in the USA, Harris believes they are securing global leadership in AI with lasting impacts on the economy, society, and national security.
Under the new directives, the Departments of Defense and Energy will identify at least three sites for private sector companies to construct AI data centers. These agencies will solicit competitive bids from private firms to build AI data centers on federal properties.
Developers selected for construction on these sites will be responsible for all costs associated with building and operating AI infrastructure, ensuring that electricity prices for consumers are not impacted by the development, as per the administration.
