Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act, Title VI, Section 10771 ("Department of Energy research, development, and demonstration activities")

• Authority: United States Congress
• Parent authority: Federal government
• Jurisdiction: United States
• Collections: U.S. federal laws
• Most recent activity: Enacted
• Most recent activity date: 2022-08-09

Risk subdomain coverage

Minimal coverage — Brief mention but no specific mitigations, recommendations or governance measures relating to the risk subdomain are described.

• AI system security vulnerabilities
• Environmental harm

All other risk subdomains had no coverage in this document.

Risk Coverage Summary

This document has minimal risk domain coverage. It primarily authorizes funding for Department of Energy research and development activities across various technology areas. The only explicit mention of AI is in the context of environmental management research activities (subdomain 6.6), with a brief reference to artificial intelligence and information technology. No specific AI risks or harms are addressed.

Sector coverage

Good coverage — Comprehensive governance measures or mitigations with clear procedures relating to the sector are explicitly described.

• Scientific Research & Development Services
• Public Administration (excl. National Security)

Minimal coverage — Brief mention but no specific mitigations, recommendations or governance measures relating to the sector are described.

• Agriculture, Mining, Construction & Manufacturing
• Trade, Transportation & Utilities
• Information
• National Security

All other sectors had no coverage in this document.

Sectors Summary

This document primarily governs Public Administration (specifically the Department of Energy and its offices) by authorizing appropriations for research, development, and demonstration activities. It also has implications for Scientific Research and Development Services, as it funds R&D activities across multiple technology areas including AI, and potentially impacts the Information sector through cybersecurity and IT research funding.

Legislative Status

Hard Law

Legislative Status Summary

This is a binding legislative instrument enacted by the United States Congress that authorizes appropriations with mandatory legal effect. The document uses mandatory language ('there are authorized to be appropriated') and creates legally binding obligations for the appropriation of federal funds.

Actors

Proposer

• Entity Types: AI_Governance_Actor
• Entities: United States Congress
• Summary: The document is identified as being enacted by the United States Congress, which is the legislative authority that proposed and enacted this appropriations authorization.

Target

• Entity Types: AI_Governance_Actor
• Entities: U.S. Department of Energy; Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; Office of Electricity; Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response; Office of Nuclear Energy; Office of Environmental Management; Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management; Advanced Research Projects Agency--Energy
• Summary: The document authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Energy acting through various DOE offices. These offices are the recipients and implementers of the authorized funding for research, development, and demonstration activities.

Enforcer

• Entity Types: AI_Governance_Actor
• Entities: U.S. Department of Energy; Congressional appropriations committees
• Summary: The Secretary of Energy and DOE offices are responsible for implementing the authorized appropriations. Congressional oversight through appropriations committees provides enforcement of proper fund usage.

Monitor

• Entity Types: AI_Governance_Actor
• Entities: United States Congress; Congressional appropriations committees
• Summary: Congress maintains oversight authority over appropriated funds through its appropriations committees and general oversight functions, though specific monitoring mechanisms are not detailed in this section.

AI Lifecycle Stages

Lifecycle stages covered by the documents, as defined in the OECD Framework for the Classification of AI Systems

• Plan and Design
• Build and Use Model
• Verify and Validate

AI Lifecycle Summary

The document primarily covers the Plan and Design stage by authorizing funding for research, development, and demonstration activities across multiple technology areas. It implicitly covers Build and Use Model through R&D activities, and mentions AI specifically in the context of environmental management research.

Technical Scope

Terms relating to technical scope that are mentioned or implicitly referenced in the document

No technical scope terms identified.

Technical Scope Summary

The document mentions artificial intelligence only once, in the context of environmental management research activities. It does not define AI or specify particular types of AI systems, models, or technical thresholds. The focus is on authorizing funding for energy-related R&D rather than governing AI specifically.