H.R. 5584: Literacy in Future Technologies Artificial Intelligence Act

This bill, known as the Literacy in Future Technologies Artificial Intelligence Act or LIFT AI Act, aims to enhance education related to artificial intelligence (AI) for K-12 students and teachers in the United States. It recognizes that AI is becoming an integral part of modern life and stresses the importance of ensuring that the younger generation is prepared to engage with this technology effectively.

Key Objectives

• The bill emphasizes the necessity for students to have the skills to use and develop AI technology as it continues to evolve.
• It promotes AI literacy to enable students to understand and utilize AI tools responsibly and effectively.
• The intent is to maintain the United States' leadership in technology through a well-educated public that can innovate in the AI sector.
• It acknowledges concerns regarding national security and economic competition from other countries in the field of AI.

Awards and Funding

The bill allows for the Director of the National Science Foundation to provide competitive, merit-reviewed awards to:

• Institutions of higher education
• Nonprofit organizations
• Consortiums that focus on the development of:
• Educational curricula that promote AI literacy
• Instructional materials and teacher training programs
• Evaluation methods to assess student proficiency in AI literacy

Activities Supported by Award Funds

Funds provided through these awards can be used for various activities, including:

• Creating formal and informal educational programs that prioritize essential skills in AI literacy.
• Offering professional development opportunities for educators to enhance their understanding of AI and its responsible use.
• Developing assessment tools for educators to evaluate AI literacy among students.
• Providing training courses and experiences for educators that include virtual and distance learning options.
• Creating hands-on learning tools to improve AI literacy.
• Integrating AI literacy into existing curricula where appropriate.

Implementation

The Director can implement the provisions of this act by distributing awards either through new programs or existing ones.

Definitions

• AI Literacy: This refers to the knowledge and skills necessary to use AI effectively, understand AI outputs critically, solve problems in an AI-driven environment, and recognize potential risks associated with AI.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI): Defined according to previous legal standards set forth in the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020.
• Director: Refers to the Director of the National Science Foundation.
• K-12 Education: Encompasses elementary and secondary education as per the definitions in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

Relevant Companies

• GOOG - Google: Likely to be impacted due to its extensive involvement in AI technology and education initiatives.
• MSFT - Microsoft: With its focus on AI and educational tools, this legislation may influence its educational programs and align with its technology offerings.
• AMZN - Amazon: As a major player in cloud computing and AI, Amazon’s involvement in educational technology could be affected by new curricula and programs funded by this bill.