Senator Murray: “I secured this funding because I know how essential it is that this technology be developed responsibly and ethically—leading on AI will be important if we want Washington state to remain at the forefront of innovation, research, and scientific achievement.”
***PHOTOS AND B-ROLL OF THE EVENT HERE***
Seattle, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, toured the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering robotics lab and computer lab at the University of Washington (UW). Murray then received a briefing from UW researchers on AI development and research. Senator Murray helped to secure $20 million in federal funding to establish the National Science Foundation (NSF) AI Institute for Dynamic Systems at UW.
“Artificial intelligence brings with it immense opportunities—but also serious challenges and threats,” said Senator Murray. “It was great to meet with the incredible University of Washington researchers working on AI, and to learn more about how the AI Institute for Dynamic Systems is helping UW, and all of Washington state, continue to lead on AI. I secured this funding because I know how essential it is that this technology be developed responsibly and ethically—leading on AI will be important if we want Washington state to remain at the forefront of innovation, research, and scientific achievement.”
In July 2021, the National Science Foundation announced 11 new artificial-intelligence research institutes, including one led by the University of Washington which will receive about $20 million over five years. The UW-led AI Institute for Dynamic Systems will focus on fundamental AI and machine learning theory, algorithms and applications for real-time learning and control of complex dynamic systems, which describe chaotic situations where conditions are constantly shifting and hard to predict. The overall goal of this institute is to integrate physics-based models with AI and machine learning approaches to develop data-enabled efficient and explainable solutions for challenges across science and engineering.
Senator Murray also secured $5 million in Congressionally Directed Spending in a draft fiscal year 2024 funding bill for UW’s Interdisciplinary Engineering Building Equipment project. UW is building a new $100 million facility that will support students working on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning and preparing for careers in aerospace, manufacturing, technology, green energy, and more. This funding would go to a variety of engineering equipment. The funding is contingent on enactment of the Senate’s appropriations bills.
Senator Murray helped pass the bipartisan Chips and Science Act last year which makes historic investments into American manufacturing, and research and development. The bill includes $13 billion for AI scholarships through NSF, $16.5 billion for the Department of Energy’s research and development on AI and machine learning, $9 billion for the National Institute of Standards and Technology work on AI and quantum information science, and $20 billion for the creation of a NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships which will focus on domestic development of AI and other quantum computing.
###
English 
Spanish