Technical

NAIRR

Federated research infrastructure of compute, data, and testbeds.

How the laws define this

Both official instruments establish the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource as a federated research infrastructure that combines shared computational resources, data repositories, and testing environments to support artificial intelligence research under a structured governance framework. They diverge, however, on eligibility limits, legal status, and specific resource offerings. The National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development (R&D) Strategic Plan (2021 update) describes a framework offering broad access to researchers subject to access rules and data governance mechanisms. In contrast, the CREATE AI Act (H.R. 2385) formalizes NAIRR as a statutory national infrastructure that explicitly limits access to eligible U.S.-based researchers and organizations for trustworthy AI research. Additionally, the CREATE AI Act expands the mandated assets beyond compute, data, and testbeds to include software environments, model APIs, educational materials, and user support governed specifically by the Act.

Synthesised from the 2 statutory definitions below. Each one is quoted in full, with its source.

How jurisdictions differ

What is distinctive in each definition, binding law in force first.

Jurisdiction	Instrument	Status	What is distinctive
United States	Creating Resources for Every American To Experiment with Artificial Intelligence (CREATE AI Act / H.R. 2385)	Proposed	This definition expands the federated infrastructure to include software environments, model APIs, educational materials, and user support, while specifying eligibility for U.S.-based researchers under a statutory governance framework.
United States	National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development (R&D) Strategic Plan (2021 update)	Superseded	This definition limits the infrastructure to shared compute, curated data, and testing environments, emphasizing broad access subject to governance, access rules, and data governance mechanisms.

Definitions (2)

The National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) denotes a federated research infrastructure providing shared compute, curated data, and testing environments to support AI R&D. It is intended to enable broad access for researchers, subject to governance, access rules, and data governance mechanisms.

National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development (R&D) Strategic Plan (2021 update)Definition 1 of 2

A statutory national research infrastructure that federates computational resources, data repositories, software environments, model APIs, testbeds, educational materials, and user support to enable trustworthy AI research for eligible U.S.-based researchers and organizations under the governance framework established by the Act.

Creating Resources for Every American To Experiment with Artificial Intelligence (CREATE AI Act / H.R. 2385) — codify/authorize NAIRRDefinition 2 of 2

Not to be confused with

National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR)

The related term uses a full name with a colon and describes NAIRR as a federated national AI research infrastructure and portal, while these definitions detail specific components and contexts.

NAIRP

NAIRP refers to a National AI Resource Platform focused on curated datasets and shared compute, narrower than the broader federated infrastructure in these NAIRR definitions.

NAIRR Pilot

The NAIRR Pilot is an NSF-led January 2024 pilot of the federated platform, whereas these definitions describe the overarching NAIRR concept in legislative and policy contexts.

Questions and answers

What components does the CREATE AI Act include in NAIRR?

The CREATE AI Act definition of NAIRR federates computational resources, data repositories, software environments, model APIs, testbeds, educational materials, and user support. It establishes governance for eligible U.S.-based researchers and organizations.

Is the 2021 AI R&D Strategic Plan's NAIRR definition still current?

No, the 2021 update defining NAIRR is superseded, replaced on May 23, 2023, by the National Artificial Intelligence R&D Strategic Plan.

How does NAIRR access work under the proposed bill?

H.R. 2385 directs the National Science Foundation and OSTP to govern NAIRR, providing AI tools, datasets, and testbeds to U.S. researchers and educators.