What does Preamble of S 2615 do?

This bill requires the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop voluntary guidelines and specifications. The guidelines and specifications pertain to internal and external assurances of artificial intelligence systems. The bill includes provisions for 'other purposes' not further detailed in this section.

What does SHORT TITLE. of S 2615 do?

This bill is formally titled the Validation and Evaluation for Trustworthy (VET) Artificial Intelligence Act.

What does PURPOSES. of S 2615 do?

This Act aims to develop voluntary technical guidelines for assessing artificial intelligence (AI) systems. The guidelines will be consensus-driven and evidence-based, considering the AI system's intended application, use-case, and risk profile. The Act intends to use meaningful assurance to build trust in AI systems, encourage their adoption, and establish accountability and governance. The Act supports the goals of the Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework, including any successor framework, published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute.

What does DEFINITIONS. of S 2615 do?

This section defines key terms used throughout the Act. An 'artificial intelligence system' is defined as a machine-based system that infers how to generate outputs to influence environments. A 'deployer' operates an AI system for internal or third-party use. A 'developer' builds, designs, codes, produces, trains, or owns an AI system, but excludes entities that are solely deployers. The 'Director' refers to the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. ‘External artificial intelligence assurance’ involves an independent evaluation by a nonaffiliated third party to verify claims and identify issues. ‘Internal artificial intelligence assurance’ is an independent evaluation conducted by the party being evaluated, with an internal reporting structure. A 'nonaffiliated third party' must be independent from the developer or deployer, demonstrate financial independence, and have expertise in relevant technical domains. The 'Secretary' refers to the Secretary of Commerce.

What does VOLUNTARY ASSURANCE TECHNICAL GUIDELINES AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR of S 2615 do?

This section directs the Director to develop and regularly review voluntary technical guidelines and specifications for artificial intelligence (AI) assurance. These guidelines and specifications should address safeguards for consumer privacy, methods to mitigate harms from AI systems, dataset quality, documentation, and governance controls. The guidelines will provide technical guidance and best practices for both internal and external AI assurance activities. Developers and deployers should use these guidelines to determine the frequency and scope of assurance activities, considering the AI system's risk and use-case profile. The guidelines recommend how developers and deployers can disclose assurance results and document corrective actions. The Director must solicit public comment on draft guidelines and make them available on the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) website. Stakeholder outreach will involve workshops and forums with various groups including industry, academia, civil society, and labor organizations. The final guidelines will be published as a standalone framework on the NIST website.

What does QUALIFICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE. of S 2615 do?

This section establishes the Artificial Intelligence Assurance Qualifications Advisory Committee. The Secretary must establish the Advisory Committee within 90 days of publishing voluntary technical guidelines under section 4(a). The Committee will consist of no more than 20 individuals with expertise in artificial intelligence, including representatives from various sectors such as higher education, AI developers, consumer groups, and public safety organizations. The Committee's duties include reviewing case studies related to licensure, certification, or accreditation of organizations verifying compliance with standards. The Committee must submit a report to the Secretary and Congress, and make it publicly available, within one year of its establishment. The report will contain recommendations regarding qualifications for parties conducting AI system assurance and whether existing programs can meet accreditation needs. The Advisory Committee will terminate one year after submitting its recommendations.

What does STUDY AND REPORT ON ENTITIES THAT CONDUCT ASSURANCES OF of S 2615 do?

This section directs the Secretary to conduct a study of entities providing internal and external artificial intelligence (AI) assurances. The study must assess the capabilities of these entities, considering factors like personnel, technical tools, and infrastructure. The Secretary will review best practices and safeguards used by these entities to protect confidential information. The study will also evaluate market demand for AI assurances and the feasibility of using accredited facilities to conduct external AI system assurances. The Secretary is required to submit a report to Congress and relevant federal agencies containing the study's results and recommendations. The report should include conclusions drawn from the assessment of facilities accredited under the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program.

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VET Artificial Intelligence Act — S. 2615

Last updated: 7/31/2025 · Introduced: 7/31/2025

Author: John Hickenlooper (D-CO)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop voluntary guidelines and specifications for assessing artificial intelligence (AI) systems, considering their intended use and risk profile.
The guidelines will cover safeguards for consumer privacy, methods to mitigate AI harms, dataset quality, documentation, and governance controls, and will be available on the NIST website.
The bill establishes an Artificial Intelligence Assurance Qualifications Advisory Committee to review case studies related to AI system assurance and recommend qualifications for entities conducting such assessments.
The Secretary of Commerce must conduct a study of entities providing AI assurances, assessing their capabilities, best practices, and the feasibility of using accredited facilities for external AI system evaluations.
The bill aims to build trust in AI systems, encourage their adoption, and establish accountability and governance through meaningful assurance practices.

119th Congressin committeeOfficial page

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Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 5 more.

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