Working Toward a Shared Vision for American AI Tech Exported around The Globe

There may be ample debate about AI in terms of where this transformative technology is heading, but there’s certainly consensus on one aspect: This is the fastest-moving innovation in history. Leaders, innovators, and regulators have had little opportunity to come together and discuss even just a few of the most pressing issues.

That’s partly why the U.S. Department of Commerce this week established the first-of-its-kind National AI Center in San Francisco. In line with the President’s AI Action Plan and AI export directives, the Center will serve as a place where American AI investors and companies can engage with the U.S. government and align on strategies for exporting American AI technologies around the world. The Center will also leverage an important nationwide commercial service network in other technology centers.

Just before the Center’s opening, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce met with several leading venture capitalists who’ve proven instrumental in supporting AI advancement. Among the firms and companies represented were Andreessen Horowitz, Benchmark, BOND, DCVC, Felicis, Tikehau Capital, IBM, Intel, Lightspeed, Draper Associates, NEA, Salesforce, and 500 Global. The Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) hosted the meeting.

The location of the Center and timing of the gathering spoke volumes of the Commerce Department’s commitment to the industry. San Francisco and Silicon Valley are home to the VC firms who, a few years ago, committed to supporting the visionaries who’ve been instrumental in establishing America’s leadership position in AI innovation. And these same VCs are funding the next wave of innovators, so they have a unique perspective on what’s ahead.

The Center, therefore, was created to be a connection point for AI companies, researchers, investors, and the Commerce Department to align on export promotion, standards leadership, intellectual property protection, and technology adoption, among other critical issues. Among the most pressing: Energy.

“You can’t talk about the future of AI without talking about energy. The compute buildout ahead of us is enormous, and powering it affordably and reliably is a challenge neither the public nor private sector can solve alone,” said Aydin Senkut, founder and managing partner of Felicis. “We’re seeing promising breakthroughs. As an example, one of our portfolio companies, Exowatt, is building scalable, cost-effective, solar-based energy infrastructure and a fully domestic supply chain. That’s the kind of American innovation the Center will likely help increase visibility on and export globally.”

The VCs and the Commerce Secretary discussed several other matters that will be important in supporting the Administration’s commitment to the U.S. not only maintaining its leadership status in trustworthy, cutting-edge AI, but exporting that technology far and wide for the global good.

“It’s important to remember that, even as quickly as AI has become part of our everyday lives, we are still at the very beginning of this journey,” said Peter Tichansky, President and CEO of BCIU. “That’s why it’s necessary, now, to establish the ability and desire to cooperate and align on shared objectives. I’m incredibly encouraged by the time and manner in which the private sector and the Commerce Department were able to come together and demonstrate a clear commitment to working together to support and export American AI innovation.”

In the months ahead, the National AI Center will bring in personnel and expertise from across the Department of Commerce in areas such as export promotion, standards leadership, IP protection, and technology adoption. Together, along with VCs and other industry leaders, they’ll develop strategies for engaging international trade partners.

Just as AI looks more advanced today than it did a year ago, the hope is that the Center will look much different a year from now, too. With the Commerce Department, VCs, and BCIU collaborating and coordinating, the Center will have both advanced U.S. leadership on AI and served as a springboard for the young American companies aiming to take AI innovation to new heights.