Workforce for AI Trust Act

The "Workforce for AI Trust Act" aims to enhance the development of safe and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems by amending the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020. It authorizes the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish new graduate and postdoctoral fellowships for interdisciplinary AI research, specifically including students and researchers from social science disciplines and the humanities. These fellowships will focus on the trustworthy design, development, training, deployment, evaluation, and understanding of AI. The NSF is also directed to encourage the application of AI in STEM fields by supporting skills-based training, workshops on trustworthy AI applications, and professional development for researchers. Furthermore, the bill mandates that NSF merit review panels for AI research proposals integrate diverse perspectives, such as those from social science, technology ethics, normative ethics, legal, and linguistic disciplines, to ensure comprehensive evaluation. To address workforce gaps, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is tasked with developing and periodically updating an artificial intelligence workforce framework. This framework will establish a common lexicon, describe necessary tasks, knowledge, and skills for AI-related work, and provide guidelines for education and training. NIST must also seek input from a broad range of stakeholders, including federal agencies, industry, academia, and labor organizations, to ensure the framework's relevance and utility. Additionally, NIST will support education and workforce development activities specifically for AI governance. This includes careers focused on helping organizations manage AI-related risks, encompassing testing, evaluation, verification, and validation of AI systems. The overall goal of these provisions is to bolster the national capacity for responsible AI development and deployment by cultivating a skilled and diverse workforce.