Investing in the Future

National Science Foundation (NSF) Director Sethuraman Panchanathan emphasized the urgent need for the United States to invest in AI and quantum technologies to preserve its global tech advantage during an event hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

A Lesson from Semiconductors

Panchanathan warned against repeating the mistakes made with semiconductors, which are now predominantly produced overseas. He stated, “In semiconductors, we are trying to put on the Band-Aids for something that we lost a couple of decades ago,” referencing the CHIPS and Science Act.

Act Now, Not Later

He urged that the US should not find itself in a position where it needs to apply Band-Aids for AI, quantum, biotech, or advanced manufacturing. “We should never put ourselves in a position like this anymore, which means that we are to act now and not after the fact when we lose something,” he added.

Funding for Progress

President Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act into law in August 2022, providing up to $52 billion to encourage semiconductor manufacturing in the US. While acknowledging this act as an “absolutely necessary” investment, Panchanathan stressed the importance of significantly increasing investments in AI and quantum technologies to outpace other nations.

Need for Intentionality

“To realize the full scale of what we really intend to do as a nation, it requires significant investment,” he stated. He called for timely appropriations to ensure the US can outcompete globally.

Leadership in Technology

Darío Gil, the new chair of the National Science Board, echoed Panchanathan’s sentiments, noting that while the US invented semiconductors, it has since lost its leadership in that technology. He cautioned that recovering this leadership is now a costly endeavor and that the same must not happen with AI and quantum technologies.

Accountability and Ambition

Gil highlighted the necessity of having the right funding, ambition, and accountability to deliver leadership in these fields. “If we miss this window in five years because the rate of this accelerates, we’re going to go back and the problem with chips is going to be a tiny problem compared to the problem we’re going to have if we miss this window … we have to act,” he warned.