National AI R&D Strategic Plan Update (2019): Key Strategies for U.S. AI Leadership
An overview of the 2019 update to the U.S. National AI Research and Development Strategic Plan. It explains the eight strategic priorities—long-term research, human–AI collaboration, ethics, safety, data infrastructure, standards, workforce development and public–private partnerships—and discusses how the plan supports the American AI Initiative and ongoing AI governance efforts.
Overview: In June 2019 the U.S. National Science and Technology Council released an update to the National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan, refreshing the 2016 roadmap for Federal AI investments. The update, which guides R&D activities under the American AI Initiative, identifies eight strategic priorities. Seven of these continue from the 2016 plan, underscoring their enduring importance, while the eighth is new and focuses on building partnerships with industry, academia and international allies to accelerate breakthroughs【745981449373845†L58-L69】. This briefing summarises the key objectives and implications of the plan and explains why it remains a foundational reference for policymakers and researchers.【765459288593972†L26-L39】
Context and purpose
The 2019 update was released following Executive Order 13859, which launched the American AI Initiative and directed Federal agencies to prioritise AI research. It acknowledges that industry and academia have dramatically expanded AI capabilities since the first plan, prompting the government to refine its role. The update does not prescribe specific research agendas, but it sets expectations for the portfolio of Federal AI R&D and seeks to ensure U.S. leadership in AI benefits the economy, national security and quality of life【745981449373845†L58-L75】. By articulating strategic priorities, the plan helps agencies align investments, coordinate across departments, avoid duplication and leverage public–private partnerships.
Eight strategic priorities
The update outlines eight areas where Federal action can catalyse progress. The first seven strategies were retained from the 2016 plan, signalling continuity, and the eighth reflects the growing importance of collaborations with the private sector and allies【765459288593972†L26-L39】.
1. Make long‑term investments in AI research
Federal agencies are urged to sustain funding for fundamental AI research, including theory, algorithms and hardware. The plan notes that breakthroughs in machine learning often require years of foundational work and emphasises research in commonsense reasoning, probabilistic reasoning, combinatorial optimisation, knowledge representation, planning and human–machine interaction【765459288593972†L56-L67】. Long‑term support helps maintain U.S. leadership and avoids over‑focusing on near‑term applications. It also encourages investments in cross‑disciplinary areas such as neuromorphic computing and robotics.
2. Develop effective methods for human–AI collaboration
AI systems increasingly augment human decision‑making, and the plan calls for research into methods that enable seamless collaboration. Priorities include new algorithms for human‑aware AI, techniques for visualisation and user interfaces, and innovations in natural language processing and dialogue. The update highlights the future of work and stresses that AI should complement rather than replace human judgement【745981449373845†L115-L125】.
3. Understand and address the ethical, legal and societal implications of AI
The strategic plan emphasises that AI development must consider ethical, legal and societal impacts. It highlights research themes such as privacy protection, fairness, transparency and accountability by design. The update recognises the need for ethical AI architectures and stresses collaboration between computer science, law, social sciences and humanities to develop frameworks that safeguard fundamental rights【745981449373845†L131-L139】. The plan notes that sustained R&D is required to develop technical means of addressing ethical concerns and to embed social values into AI systems【765459288593972†L76-L87】.
4. Ensure the safety and security of AI systems
Building robust, trustworthy AI is a key priority. The plan calls for research into explainability, transparency, verification and validation, and adversarial resilience【745981449373845†L142-L156】. It encourages the development of techniques to detect and defend against attacks on AI models and to align AI behaviours with human intentions. The strategy also emphasises long‑term safety and value‑alignment research to prevent unintended consequences in highly autonomous systems.
5. Develop shared public datasets and environments
Effective AI research depends on access to high‑quality data and testing environments. The update urges federal agencies to expand public datasets, create diverse benchmarks, and build testbeds that support experimentation across sectors【745981449373845†L159-L168】. It acknowledges that data access remains a barrier for many researchers and recommends open‑source software libraries and toolkits to accelerate innovation. The plan also stresses responsiveness to both commercial and public interests when designing datasets.
6. Measure and evaluate AI technologies through standards and benchmarks
To ensure comparability and trust, the plan emphasises the development of AI standards and benchmarks. Federal leadership through organisations like NIST should support the creation of technical standards, evaluation tools and testbeds【745981449373845†L172-L179】. Engaging the broader AI community in standards development is essential for ensuring that benchmarks reflect diverse needs and avoid biases.
7. Better understand national AI R&D workforce needs
The plan recognises that a skilled workforce is essential to maintain U.S. competitiveness. It calls for efforts to understand the composition and needs of the AI R&D workforce, support education and training programmes, and ensure that workers can collaborate effectively with AI systems【745981449373845†L184-L188】. By advancing workforce development, the government aims to build capacity across research disciplines and encourage diverse participation.
8. Expand public–private partnerships to accelerate advances in AI
This new strategy reflects the rapid progress made by the private sector and the need for closer collaboration. The plan urges agencies to form partnerships with industry, academic institutions and international allies to share ideas, co‑invest in research and transition breakthroughs into practical applications【765459288593972†L41-L49】. Effective partnerships can leverage commercial expertise, speed technology transfer and foster innovation ecosystems.
Implications for researchers and policymakers
The strategic plan underscores that Federal investment should focus on areas unlikely to be addressed by industry alone【765459288593972†L26-L37】. By maintaining the seven original strategies and adding a partnership‑focused eighth, the update balances continuity and evolution. Researchers can use the plan to identify priority areas and align proposals with national goals. Policymakers can leverage the plan to coordinate funding, develop legislation and engage stakeholders. The plan has already influenced subsequent initiatives such as the NIST AI Risk Management Framework and informs international discussions on trustworthy AI.
The update’s emphasis on partnerships acknowledges that innovation increasingly occurs at the intersection of government, academia and industry. Initiatives like the National AI Research Institutes and joint ventures with tech companies illustrate how shared investment and expertise can accelerate progress. At the same time, the plan highlights the need for robust governance to manage ethical risks and ensure that AI benefits society. Legislative proposals such as the Growing Artificial Intelligence through Research Act and the Artificial Intelligence Innovation Act, introduced in 2019, reflect growing congressional interest in codifying and funding the plan’s priorities【765459288593972†L100-L116】.
Conclusion
The 2019 update to the National AI R&D Strategic Plan provides a comprehensive roadmap for Federal investment and coordination. It reaffirms the importance of long‑term research, human‑centred AI, ethical considerations, safety and security, data infrastructure, standards, workforce development and, importantly, partnerships【745981449373845†L58-L69】. As the American AI Initiative continues to evolve, this plan remains a cornerstone for U.S. AI policy. By adhering to these strategies, the United States can foster trustworthy, innovative AI systems that advance economic prosperity, national security and the public good.
Continue in the AI pillar
Return to the hub for curated research and deep-dive guides.
Latest guides
-
AI Workforce Enablement and Safeguards Guide — Zeph Tech
Equip employees for AI adoption with skills pathways, worker protections, and transparency controls aligned to U.S. Department of Labor principles, ISO/IEC 42001, and EU AI Act…
-
AI Incident Response and Resilience Guide — Zeph Tech
Coordinate AI-specific detection, escalation, and regulatory reporting that satisfy EU AI Act serious incident rules, OMB M-24-10 Section 7, and CIRCIA preparation.
-
AI Model Evaluation Operations Guide — Zeph Tech
Build traceable AI evaluation programmes that satisfy EU AI Act Annex VIII controls, OMB M-24-10 Appendix C evidence, and AISIC benchmarking requirements.