Ted Lieu (D-CA)
AI Grand Challenges Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The AI Grand Challenges Act of 2026 authorizes the Director of the National Science Foundation to create a program that awards competitive prizes for artificial intelligence research and development. This program aims to solve specific, well-defined grand challenges across various sectors including national security, health, and energy. The Director must establish the program within 12 months of the act's enactment. A specific requirement is included to establish at least one grand challenge focused on medical breakthroughs for lethal forms of cancer. Prize awards for these challenges will include cash prizes, with specific minimum amounts set for different categories.
Yes· 3 of 12
- Scored +7
Does this put more money into scientific research?
The act authorizes the NSF to award significant cash prizes to stimulate advanced scientific research through AI.
- Scored +6
Would business owners be better off under this?
The prize competitions offer substantial financial incentives for private entities to innovate and commercialize new technologies.
- Scored +5
Is this likely to create jobs?
The program aims to stimulate research, development, and commercialization across sectors like manufacturing and agriculture.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Medical Breakthroughs: The bill requires the establishment of at least one grand challenge focused on solving or advancing solutions for the most lethal forms of cancer and related comorbidities, which could increase the quality-이라 adjusted life years for those affected (Section 2(c)(3)(A)).
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Economic Stimulation through Research: The program is designed to stimulate artificial intelligence research, development, and commercialization across numerous fields such as manufacturing, agriculture, and transportation (Section 2(b)(1)).
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Targeted Problem Solving: By establishing specific, well-defined problem statements and success metrics, the program aims to use science and technology to solve problems that benefit the United States (Section 2(c)(2) and Section 2(c)(4)).
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Data Accessibility: The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy will coordinate the identification and publication of data sets to help address foundational scientific problems through artificial intelligence (Section 3).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Eligibility Restrictions: Access to these prizes is limited; private entities must be incorporated and maintain their primary place of business in the United States, while individuals must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States (Section 2(e)(2)(A)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — The prize competitions offer substantial financial incentives for private entities to innovate and commercialize new technologies. Would students be better off under this? — The bill includes education and workforce training as a key area for AI-driven grand challenges.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The program aims to stimulate research, development, and commercialization across sectors like manufacturing and agriculture. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The creation of competitive prize pools provides opportunities for private entities to compete for significant cash awards.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The act authorizes the NSF to award significant cash prizes to stimulate advanced scientific research through AI. Does this reduce what student borrowers owe or repay? — The bill includes education and workforce training as a target area for artificial intelligence innovation.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The program includes environment and natural resource management as potential focus areas for AI development. Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill identifies agriculture and rural development as priority categories for AI grand challenges.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill mandates a specific prize competition focused on advancing medical breakthroughs for lethal forms of cancer.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — The bill explicitly lists cybersecurity as one of the potential categories for AI grand challenges.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the Director to publish problem statements, success metrics, and biennial reports on the NSF website.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — By targeting sectors like agriculture and manufacturing, the bill aims to solve problems that benefit the national economy.
- 2/9/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Jay ObernolteRepublican · California