How is the U.S. aiming to lead in international standards for AI?

The Promoting United States Leadership in Standards Act of 2024 has successfully passed through the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation with unanimous support on July 31.

This legislation aims to restore the U.S.’s position as a leader in international standards-setting for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other critical emerging technologies (CETs). Introduced in February 2024 by U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner of Virginia and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, it addresses the growing influence of Chinese-government affiliated companies on international technology standards.

For decades, the United States has been at the forefront of technological development, allowing it to set global standards. However, in recent years, organizations backed by the Chinese Communist Party have begun to surpass the U.S. in key areas, enabling the Chinese government to shape standards to serve its interests.

“I am thrilled to see this important legislation pass through the Commerce Committee with overwhelming bipartisan support,” Warner stated. “This legislation clearly outlines steps we must take to reestablish our leadership and ensure that we are doing all we can to set the global standards for critical and emerging technologies. I look forward to a full Senate vote.”

Blackburn emphasized that the CCP’s mission is to undermine U.S. interests globally by exploiting American weaknesses.

“As they ramp up their efforts to dominate global standards for emerging technologies, the U.S. must be a global leader in innovation, and that includes setting standards that reflect our interests and values,” Blackburn remarked.

The Promoting United States Leadership in Standards Act proposes several key actions:

Require the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to submit a report to Congress identifying current U.S. participation in standards development for AI and other CETs;
Create an accessible web portal to assist stakeholders in engaging with international standardization efforts, including a list of relevant standards;
Establish a pilot program to award $5 million in grants over five years to support hosting standards meetings for AI and other CETs in the U.S.;
Generate a report to Congress in the third year of the program detailing grant recipients, expenses, program effectiveness, and geographic distribution of event attendees.

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