U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced today key members of the executive leadership team to lead the U.S. AI Safety Institute (AISI), which will be established at the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST). Raimondo named Elizabeth Kelly to lead the institute as its inaugural director and Elham Tabassi to serve as chief technology officer. The U.S. AI Safety Institute was established under NIST at the direction of President Biden to support the responsibilities assigned to the Department of Commerce under the president’s landmark Executive Order.

“I am confident that under the leadership of Elizabeth Kelly, and Elham Tabassi, the U.S. AI Safety Institute will be well positioned to develop the measurement science needed to promote safe and trustworthy development of AI,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and NIST Director Laurie E. Locascio.

“The Safety Institute’s ambitious mandate to develop guidelines, evaluate models, and pursue fundamental research will be vital to addressing the risks and seizing the opportunities of AI. I am thrilled to work with the talented NIST team and the broader AI community to advance our scientific understanding and foster AI safety. While our first priority will be executing the tasks assigned to NIST in President Biden’s executive order, I look forward to building the institute as a long-term asset for the country and the world,” said Elizabeth Kelly, special assistant to the president for economic policy. 

“The USAISI will advance American leadership globally in responsible AI innovations that will make our lives better. We must have a firm understanding of the technology, its current and emerging capabilities, and limitations. NIST is taking the lead to create the science, practice, and policy of AI safety and trustworthiness. I am thrilled to be part of this remarkable team, leading the effort to develop science-based, and empirically backed guidelines and standards for AI measurement and policy,” said Elham Tabassi, chief AI advisor for NIST.

Read the complete news release on the Department of Commerce website.