Open-Source AI Leadership Act

Summary#

This bill directs the Secretary of Commerce to support the adoption and use of "qualified open models," which are open artificial intelligence models developed and made available by U.S. persons. To do this, the Secretary may: designate a single point of contact; review and direct relevant Commerce programs; identify and address barriers to adoption; enter into agreements with private companies, agencies, States, and qualified foreign partners; develop policy and recommendations; and identify ways to monitor adoption and use.

The bill also requires the Secretary to identify, assess, and (as appropriate) publicly describe risks from "foreign adversary models" (open models developed or made available by a covered nation or entities under its control). The assessment must cover risks related to model training, confidentiality and access to personal or proprietary information, organizational security and supply chains, model outputs, safety or misuse-prevention features, and risks tied to development of chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear capabilities.

The Secretary must publish a report on those risks no later than 18 months after the bill is enacted and annually afterward. The report must include an overview of adoption and use of leading foreign adversary models, their cost/capability/performance, and a comparison with qualified open models, and must be submitted to the relevant House and Senate committees within 30 days of publication. The annual publication requirement ends 10 years after enactment. The bill also states it does not authorize the Secretary to ban or restrict open artificial intelligence models.

What it means for you#

• If you are a U.S. AI developer, startup, company, State, agency, or a qualified foreign partner, the Department of Commerce may increase coordination and offer support or enter agreements to encourage use of U.S. open AI models.
• The Department will look for and try to address barriers to adopting qualified open models and may issue policy recommendations and monitoring methods.
• The Department will publish public reports on risks tied to open models from covered nations and compare those models to qualified U.S. open models. The first report is due within 18 months of enactment and then yearly. Congress will receive the reports within 30 days of publication.
• The bill says the Secretary may not ban or otherwise make open AI models unavailable.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on costs or appropriations. The bill text does not specify funding amounts, authorizations of appropriations, or estimated budget effects.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.