Executive Order on “Genesis Mission” for AI

Action: The President issued an Executive Order launching the “Genesis Mission,” a government initiative led by the Department of Energy (DOE) to use Federal scientific datasets to train AI models to “accelerate scientific breakthroughs.” Among other steps, the Order directs DOE to create the “American Science and Security Platform” to provide access to high-performance computing resources, AI-models, and secure access to datasets. The Order also directs DOE to identify 20 science and technology challenges that can be addressed through the mission.

Trusted Insights for What's Ahead^®

• The Administration has prioritized AI development, issuing an Executive Order soon after the President’s inauguration directing Federal agencies to develop a plan to “sustain and enhance America’s global AI dominance.” The subsequent plan – released in July – focuses on removing regulatory barriers to AI innovation and the building of AI infrastructure, including data centers, power plants, and semiconductor manufacturing facilities.
• DOE notes that Genesis Mission will be a collaborative effort involving the 17 national labs as well as leading US firms and universities.
• The Order does not allocate any additional Federal funds for the project, though it likens the urgency and ambition for the effort to the Manhattan Project.
• Relatedly, a bipartisan pair of senators launched the American Science Acceleration Project, which has sought input on how to use AI and accessible datasets to advance scientific discovery
• What this means for business: The Order directs DOE to develop a plan for incorporating datasets from academic institutions and private industry, introducing data-sharing and intellectual property considerations for organizations and firms. Institutions and firms should evaluate the opportunity to advise on the scientific and technological challenges that should be prioritized in domains identified by the Order, including advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, critical minerals, nuclear fission and fusion energy, quantum information science, and semiconductors and microelectronics.