The latest episodes of washington journal and scheduling information for cspans tv networks and cspan radio plus a variety of compelling podcasts. Cspan now is available at the apple store and google play, download it for free today. Cspan now your front row seat to washington anytime anywhere. On capitol hill, Deputy Energy secretary david turk talked about the work on science and technology with ai. This hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee is about two hours. [inaudible conversations] the meeting will come to order. Our hearing today is kicking off discussions for the following timely topic. Recent advances in Artificial Intelligence and the department of energys role in ensuring our continued competitiveness and emerging technologies, over the past few years six National Labs have been working to understand challenges around ai and various issues. National laboratory in illinois, Lawrence Livermore and Lawrence BerkeleyNational Labs in california, la sal most, National Labs in new mexico and art ridge dark ridge National Labs in tennessee. The labs work in bringing together fundamental science and National Security missions, this hearing will examine their findings. This hearing will also discuss 1. 8 billion Computing Program the committee authorized. If we want to invest in ai in a costeffective way we must build on existing programs and avoid duplication. Most people think of us as advancing Energy Technologies like nuclear reactors, Carbon Capture and hydrogen. The doe does more than just energy. The department, the largest supporter physical, Scientific Research and the federal government conducting research and developing technologies across a range of fields from quantum computing, astro physics, last congress we spent a lot of time examining the Critical Role in broad Scientific Research in the context of the endless frontier act which became laws and the chips in science act, doe scientific or jumpstart private Sector Innovation and strengthens our economy to National Security. Doe research ensures the us can anticipate, assess, and mitigate emerging Technology Threats related to advance computing, biotechnology, Nuclear Security and more. Artificial intelligence across the vast mission has the potential to revolutionize scientific discovery, technology, deployment, National Security. Ai has already changed the world at a remarkable pace. We are seeing it deployed in battlefields across the world. Ukraine successfully used and i enabled drones forms against russian forces. Also ai helped us fight covid 19, oak Ridge National lavatories uses Artificial Intelligence and Computing Resources to model proteins to help develop the vaccine but make no mistake, Artificial Intelligence also presents many risks. Earlier this year, nonscientific students in mit was tasked with investigating whether ai chat bots could be prompted to assist nonexperts in causing a pandemic and in just one hour, just one hour, chat bots suggested four potential pandemic pathogens, how they could be generated from synthetic dna using reverse genetics, supply the names of the dna synthesis companies, and likely to screen orders, identify detailed protocols and how to troubleshoot them and recommended anyone lacking skills to perform reverse genetics engage a 4 core facility or Contact Research organizations. That comes from a Research Paper titled can largely which model be democratized to be used by technology which i ask unanimous consent to enter into the record. Scientific and engineering expertise is a barrier that protects us from rogue actors. Until now the common person has not had access to the resources to launch these hightech threats. Availability of Ai Technologies illuminate much of the expertise required to develop a weapon, disease, cyber attack, eroding defenses we had in the past. Ai is not new as an art. Ai is not a new issue for the committee or the department of energy. Since 1960, doe has been a key player in investment in ai, we all know the department has 17 National Labs, 34 user facilities that are crown jewels in americas network. Doe National Laboratory system houses a workforce of 70,000 scientists, engineers, researchers and support personnel with world leading scientific expertise Whose Mission is to serve the american people. Each of these labs plays a significant role in the future of ai. Doe is also the largest funder of physical science and manages more Scientific Data than any other agency. As a result the department has Computing Resources, expertise, experience managing large volumes of data that give the department the National Leadership on Artificial Intelligence. When federal agencies have an ai problem they look to the doe and its labs for help. Over the last decade department developed thousands of applications. The National EnergyTechnology Lab in morgantown, West Virginia supports department of interior in using Artificial Intelligence to identify oil and gas wells. By analyzing survey maps, drilling permits, historical images, production records, and high witness accounts to find well sites. During the 2,023 orangey awards which im told is referred to as the office of innovation, doctor rich stevens of national lab is one of the Witnesses Today was recognized for his work using ai to accelerate, discover new Cancer Therapies and treatments that are highly personalized for individual patients and our committee has recently put an Important Role in advancing does ai work recognizing the United States is not far behind in supercomputing race. We authorized the excess Computing Program at the department of energy in the one hundred fifteenth congress. In may of last year the frontier supercomputer at oak Ridge National laboratory in tennessee past the ability to perform one billion calculations per second. Thats a lot. Making this the fastest supercomputer in the world. China had the fastest computers, now the us has regained the lead. This supercomputer is using ai to model their behavior of human cells to develop better treatments for alzheimers, and cancer. But this is just beginning. Ai has the potential to add trillions of dollars into the World Economy each year. Governments and companies around the world are competing fiercely. Americans must accelerate efforts to compete and defend against china and ai. China on ai. It is estimated the annual chinese ai investments will reach 26 billion by 2026 which dwarfs the Us Governments current spending of 3. 3 billion per year, 20152021, Chinese Ai Companies include 40. 2 billion from us investors which i cannot even believe. And 251 ai companies. In 2017 china released a new generation of Ai Development plans which includes r d, the us currently does not have a Strategic Plan like this. In addition to Government Spending chinas workforce advantage is significant, has twice as many phds and masters degree holders. China has Artificial Intelligence phd programs in every one of the top universities. This committee champions the Chinese Government could be set to operate as many as 10 supercomputers by 2025. Xi jinping has pointed to our National Lab Network calling it indispensable momentum for the element innovation in science and technology, soon, china may have their own lab network. Last week a Company Released a chinese commonest Party Language model compared to chat gpt. The apps developed in the us which we all heard a lot about. It is the most downloaded apps in asia and is expected to continue to grow. They need to do more Strategic Planning so americans have confidence we are leveraging Key Resources such as our National Labs to the full potential. We should encourage others to use these resources and promote private sector partnerships with of the department of interNational Labs to develop safe commercial applications. We must also understand additional investment needed to spur leadership in Artificial Intelligence, congress should focus on strengthening our existing programs rather than creating duplicate new programs at other agencies. We should also ensure doe and National Labs can responsibly recruit leading ai experts in our country and globally. The ai expertise comes from abroad. They were cofounded nearly half of top startups in the us and International Students earn 60 of Computer Science doctorates. All at the same time we must be absolutely sure the departments ai work includes Strong Research security requirements. We will not outcompete china in ai if they are able to steal the technology funded by taxpayer dollars. The chips in science act that passed last Congress Featured research and security improvements that are currently being implemented by the department. However, it is an evolving threat. We must be clear eyed in this threat. The United States must remain at the forefront of new emerging technologies, the department of energy is an essential component of that. Im looking forward to hearing apps as his perspectives on steps our committee and the department could take to ensure americas advancing ai in a competitive responsible manner. With that i turn to my friends were opening remarks. Appreciate your opening remarks because Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming the world. It is already impacting our daily lives. Artificial intelligence plays an Important Role in the energy sector, mining ai can reduce equipment downtime, advanced algorithms all minors locate mineral rich deposits for more efficient exploration. Realtime analytic strength and worker safety programs by predicting potential hazards. Artificial intelligence helps pinpoint oil and gas reserves, predictive models harness data to streamline operations and reduce costs, sensors reinforce Pipeline Safety and efficiency. Artificial intelligence has great promise to expand our economy and strengthen our National Security. Also raises welldocumented concerns. A study of the university of east anglia highlighted a significant and systemic leftwing bias in chat gpt platform. In the United States it revealed a bias in favor of democrats, the same program favored the labour party and the United Kingdom and the Workers Program party in brazil. Cant let political bias infiltrate the element of ai. This is particular true when taxpayer dollars are helping fund technologies development. Innovation in emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence can be a source of great strength. It can be a key advantage in our geopolitical competition with china and russia. It could also create a National Security risk if the technologies are not properly protected. The department of energy has a role of intelligence research. The most advanced commuting systems, National Labs have significant experience developing our nations most sensitive technologies. The peoples republic of china is watching every move made at our National Labs. Since 1987 the chinese commonest party, targeted 160 chinese researchers working at our premier Nuclear Weapons lab. Returning to china, key military technologies, financed by american taxpayers. Fbi officials warned that china is targeting us businesses, universities and Government Research facilities, china trying to get their hands on cutting edge American Research and technology. Nonus resident chinese nationals still working at the nations labs, many of these foreign nationals strive to further scientific innovation and collaborate in good faith. They find themselves beholden to an authoritarian regime and the chinese commonest partys relentless. Some of these chinese nationals will see no choice to support the Chinese Communist through research and technology. Their families back in china may suffer harsh consequences if they do not comply with their governments demands. Chinas sustained interest in our intellectual property, the intense global competition surrounding Artificial Intelligence. They may drive advancements in the field, we cant overlook the threat to National Security posed by the Chinese Government. The department of energy and our National Labs must take the china threat more seriously. We cant let our Technology Fall into the hands of those in beijing good. I look forward to hearing from our Witnesses Today on what additional steps Research Agencies in laboratories and Universities Fund must take to prevent this theft of american technology. Thanks for calling this important hearing. I would like to thank the witnesses for being here today. We will have david turk, deputy secretary of energy, thank you for the great work. The associate laboratory, anna puglisi of Georgetown University center for security in emerging technology, and mr. Andrew wheeler, Vice President at hewlettpackard enterprises. I will turn to david turk, we begin with your opening remarks. Distinguished members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity. On behalf of the department of energy, we talk about our activities in and vision for Artificial Intelligence. Let me begin, appropriately so, by thanking this committee, for years and years of strong, sustained support that led to the doe becoming an ai powerhouse. You laid out much of that in your own Opening Statement. With your leadership we designed, developed and operate four of the top ten fastest supercomputers in the world including the fastest, frontier at oak Ridge National lab. Through the computing project doe is developing the worlds first Capable Software ecosystem that is helping drive breakthroughs. Ai breakthroughs incredible areas as varied as material science, cancer research, earthquake Risk Assessment, Energy Production and storage, computational weapons application, and i could go on and on. Across a network of 34 National User facilities around the country doe generates tremendous volumes of highquality data, literally the fuel that can lead to more ai breakthroughs. Most importantly, doe National Laboratory system houses a workforce of over 70,000 scientists, engineers, researchers and support personnel with world leading expertise. It is a part