|
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
|
|
by REBECCA KAGAN
|
|
Worth Knowing
Nvidia To Acquire Arm for $40B: On Sunday, U.S. GPU designer Nvidia announced plans to acquire U.K. chip company Arm from current owner SoftBank for $40 billion. Arm develops and licenses designs that are used to produce chips, including those inside most smartphones — an area where Nvidia is not currently a major player. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said that together, the two companies will create the “leading computing company for the age of AI.” Nvidia will maintain Arm’s open-licensing model, letting Arm continue to serve customers around the world, though some authorities worry the deal would effectively place Arm under U.S. control amid U.S.-China tensions. Assuming regulatory approval, the purchase should take 18 months to complete; if finalized, it would be the largest-ever semiconductor deal.
Portland, OR Enacts Strictest Facial Recognition Ban in the US: The Portland City Council unanimously voted last Wednesday to ban both private and government use of facial recognition due to privacy concerns as well as gender and racial inaccuracies. The strictest ordinance of its kind in the nation to date, it prohibits companies from using the technology in any “place of public accommodation” where goods or services are offered. The prohibition goes into effect on January 1, 2021. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said he hopes it encourages other cities to enact more stringent legislation as well.
Chinese Tech Executives Launch Domestic Tech Fund: A group of Chinese tech executives plans to launch a “domestic replacement” fund to support Chinese tech companies focusing on AI, 5G and semiconductors, Reuters reports. The fund aims to assist companies affected by U.S. sanctions and create China’s next tech giant. Venture capital firm China Europe Capital expects to raise 5 billion yuan ($730 million) with the help of former executives from Huawei and chipmaker SMIC. China Europe Capital Chairman Zhang Jun said the group sees the U.S.-China tech war as “a matter of life and death,” and that it hopes to provide blacklisted companies with extra support to “survive, and run, although with a limp.”
Machine Learning Spotlight — Standards For Clinical Trials Involving AI: A consortium of experts has proposed the first international standards for clinical trials involving AI. The guidelines were published simultaneously in leading medical journals BMJ, Nature Medicine and Lancet Digital Health after being developed with input from more than 150 authorities. The authors developed a list of 14 AI-specific additions to the standard journal protocols for reporting on clinical trials, including describing the type of algorithm, the training data and the data analysis process. AI is a “strong driver” of new medical interventions, the authors say, and they hope the standards will help editors and readers accurately appraise the quality of new interventions.
|
|
Government Updates
Esper Announces AI Partnership for Defense: The Joint AI Center will launch the AI Partnership for Defense this week in collaboration with allies, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said at the Defense Department's AI Symposium and Exposition. Formed with at least 10 other nations’ militaries and defense departments, the partnership will focus on data sharing, ensuring interoperability of AI systems and incorporating ethics into the AI pipeline. Esper described the partnership as part of a democratic alternative to China and Russia’s authoritarian approach to AI. In the same talk, Esper highlighted two AI training programs for DOD staff and announced that a real-world dogfight between AI and human pilots will occur in 2024.
Groen Nomination To Be JAIC Director Clears Major Senate Hurdle: On Tuesday, the Senate Armed Services Committee advanced the nomination of Maj. Gen. Michael Groen to be Director of the Joint AI Center. He now awaits Senate confirmation. Groen has served in the Marine Corps for more than 30 years and is currently the deputy chief of computer network operations at the National Security Agency. If appointed, he would be promoted to lieutenant general, as the JAIC previously announced the position would be filled by a three-star general or flag officer.
Trump Administration Reportedly Considers Blacklisting SMIC: According to Reuters, the Trump administration is considering blacklisting Chinese chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation over concerns about its relationship with China’s military. SMIC said in a statement it was in “complete shock and perplexity” about the possible blacklisting, claiming it complies with all U.S. regulations and has no relationship with the Chinese military. If enacted, SMIC’s addition to the Entity List would require U.S. government approval of American suppliers shipping to the company. SMIC shares fell 23 percent on the news.
House Approves Bill Authorizing AI Center of Excellence: On a Monday voice vote, the House passed legislation codifying an AI Center of Excellence within the General Services Administration. The AI in Government Act of 2020, introduced by Rep. McNerney and then-Rep. Meadows, tasks the Center of Excellence with improving “cohesion and competency” of government AI use, convening stakeholders to discuss trends in AI and publishing relevant information online. The Center is also intended to provide agencies with advice on acquisition and use of AI and advise the Director of the Office of Management and Budget on developing policies related to the use of AI. The Senate companion bill was approved by committee but has not yet received a floor vote.
|
|
What’s New at CSET
REPORTS
PUBLICATIONS AND PODCASTS
FORECASTS
CSET has launched a crowd forecasting platform. Sign up as a forecaster, and take a look at some of the predictions so far:
EVENTS
IN THE NEWS
|
|
Upcoming Events
-
September 17: Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, An Allied Approach to Semiconductor Sector Competitiveness
-
September 17: George Washington University, What Can the US Government Do To Encourage AI Competitiveness?
-
September 18: CSET, Foretell Forecasting Forum
-
September 18: AFCEA and INSA, 2020 Intelligence and National Security Summit featuring Margarita Konaev
-
September 29: Stanford, Hoover Institution and Human Rights Foundation, The Rise of Digital Authoritarianism: China, AI and Human Rights
-
October 6: CSET & WestExec Advisors, Building Trust Through Testing: Adapting DOD’s TEVV Enterprise for Machine Learning Systems, Including Deep Learning Systems
-
October 19: CSET, Using Crowd Forecasting to Inform Policy, with Jason Matheny
What else is going on? Suggest stories, documents to translate & upcoming events here.
|
|
|
|
