AI Grand Challenges Act of 2026

This bill would require the National Science Foundation to set up an "AI Grand Challenges Program" within 12 months that awards cash prizes for artificial intelligence research that solves or advances defined problems in areas such as national security, health, energy, agriculture, and AI safety. The Foundation would have to create at least one prize competition focused on using AI to address the most lethal forms of cancer, with at least $10 million awarded to each winner. Other competition winners would receive at least $1 million each, and winners must be U.S.-based companies or U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The Foundation could accept funds from other governments and private groups, and would report winners and program activities to Congress. The bill also directs the White House science office to coordinate federal agencies to publish data sets for scientific problems that AI could help address.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Ted Lieu Democrat sponsor
• 1 cosponsors