Comment Section for Feds kick off National AI Research Resource with pilot program live today | TechCrunch

The webpage from TechCrunch announces the launch of the pilot program for the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR), an initiative organized by U.S. agencies and private partners. The NAIRR was proposed a year ago and aims to democratize access to AI resources and expertise, which are currently concentrated among tech giants and privately funded start-ups. The coalition includes the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, NASA, DARPA, NOAA, and more than two dozen major tech companies. The NAIRR has an $800 million per-year budget for the next three years, subject to congressional approval. The resources will be allocated to applicants through a grant-like process, based on the evaluation of the proposals they submit. The pilot program will focus on four areas: NAIRR Open, NAIRR Secure, NAIRR Software, and NAIRR Classroom. Only 25 to 50 proposals are expected to be accepted in the initial pilot period, with hundreds more spots opening up in the spring.