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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4896 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4896

To authorize the National Science Foundation to support research on the 
 development of artificial intelligence-enabled efficient technologies.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 31, 2024

 Mr. Welch (for himself and Mr. Lujan) introduced the following bill; 
    which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
To authorize the National Science Foundation to support research on the 
 development of artificial intelligence-enabled efficient technologies.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``AI Innovation and Development for 
Efficiency Act of 2024'' or the ``AIDE Act of 2024''.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION SUPPORT OF RESEARCH ON IMPACTS OF 
              ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ON EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Artificial intelligence.--The term ``artificial 
        intelligence'' means a machine-based system that can, for a 
        given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, 
        recommendations or decisions influencing real or virtual 
        environments. Artificial intelligence systems use machine and 
        human-based inputs to--
                    (A) perceive real and virtual environments;
                    (B) abstract such perceptions into models through 
                analysis in an automated manner; and
                    (C) use model inference to formulate options for 
                information or action.
            (2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the National Science Foundation.
            (3) Efficient technology.--The term ``efficient 
        technology'' means a technology that critically considers 
        minimizing emissions, securing clean air and water, building 
        climate and community resiliency, promoting healthy food, and 
        other sustainability pillars.
            (4) EPSCoR institution.--The term ``EPSCoR institution'' 
        means an institution of higher education, nonprofit 
        organization, or other institution located in a jurisdiction 
        eligible to participate in the Established Program to Stimulate 
        Competitive Research under section 113 of the National Science 
        Foundation Authorization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1862g).
    (b) Support of Research.--
            (1) In general.--The Director, in consultation with the 
        heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall support merit-
        reviewed and competitively awarded research on the development 
        or expansion of artificial intelligence-enabled efficient 
        technologies. Such research projects may include--
                    (A) development of artificial intelligence-enabled 
                efficient technologies, including in the areas of--
                            (i) smart grids;
                            (ii) mobility or transportation;
                            (iii) agriculture;
                            (iv) waste reduction;
                            (v) emissions reduction; and
                            (vi) resource conservation;
                    (B) assessments of the feasibility of safe and 
                reliable adoption of artificial intelligence-enabled 
                efficient technologies into critical infrastructure; 
                and
                    (C) research on the effectiveness of expanding 
                public understanding, development, or adoption of 
                artificial intelligence-enabled efficient technologies.
            (2) Consideration for certain focus.--In carrying out the 
        program described in paragraph (1), the Director shall give 
        particular consideration to projects that include efficient 
        technology that focuses on--
                    (A) building new smart technologies to support 
                critical infrastructure efficiency;
                    (B) minimizing pollution and greenhouse gas 
                emissions from critical infrastructure sectors; and
                    (C) upgrading existing constructions and 
                infrastructure to be more efficient.
            (3) Impact assessments.--Each research project supported by 
        the Director under paragraph (1) shall include an impact 
        assessment conducted by the researcher that evaluates the 
        energy consumption of the artificial intelligence-enabled 
        efficient technology.
            (4) Consideration.--In supporting research under this 
        subsection, the Director shall give special consideration to 
        research conducted at EPSCoR institutions.
    (c) Reports.--
            (1) Findings and recommendations.--Not later than 18 months 
        after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall 
        report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate, the Subcommittee on Commerce, 
        Justice, Science, and Related Agencies of the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on Science, Space, 
        and Technology of the House of Representatives, and the 
        Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related 
        Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
        Representatives--
                    (A) the Director's findings with respect to the 
                feasibility for research opportunities, including with 
                relevant Federal agencies and private sector critical 
                infrastructure providers, to improve the development 
                and integration of artificial intelligence-enabled 
                efficient technologies; and
                    (B) any recommendations of the Director that could 
                facilitate and improve communication and coordination 
                among the National Science Foundation, relevant Federal 
                agencies, and the private sector to effectively develop 
                and implement artificial intelligence-enabled efficient 
                technologies.
            (2) Results of research.--Not later than 4 years after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall report to the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
        Senate, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and 
        Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the 
        Senate, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
        House of Representatives, and the Subcommittee on Commerce, 
        Justice, Science, and Related Agencies of the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the House of Representatives on the results 
        of the research supported under this section.
                                 <all>
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