AI Science Policy
AAAI maintains an active role in ongoing discussions of US science and technology policy, principally as it relates to computing research in general, and to artificial intelligence in particular. Toward the first of these ends, AAAI joins with other computing societies, academic departments, and research laboratories as a member of the Computing Research Association. Toward the second, AAAI has prepared reports, listed below, on AI research for US governmental agencies.
A Report to ARPA on Twenty-First Century Intelligent Systems
This report stems from an April 1994 meeting, organized by AAAI at the suggestion of Steve Cross and Gio Wiederhold. The purpose of the meeting was to assist ARPA in defining an agenda for foundational AI research. Prior to the meeting, the fellows and officers of AAAI, as well as the report committee members, were asked to recommend areas in which major research thrusts could yield significant scientific gain--with high potential impact on DOD applications--over the next ten years. At the meeting, these suggestions and their relevance to current national needs and challenges in computing were discussed and debated.
The Role of Intelligent Systems in the National Information Infrastructure
The field of artificial intelligence (AI) can play a pivotal role in meeting major challenges of the NII. AI uses the theoretical and experimental tools of computer science to study the phenomena of intelligent behavior. The field not only addresses a profound scientific problem, but also develops practical technology for constructing intelligent systems. AI research has produced an extensive body of principles, representations, and algorithms. Successful AI applications range from custom-built expert systems to mass-produced software and consumer electronics. AI techniques can play a central role in the development of a useful and usable National Information Infrastructure (NII) because they offer the best alternative for addressing three key challenges.
Additional information on this subject can be found at the Computing Research Association’s web page: http://www.cra.org/.