TEST AI Act of 2025

Full Title:
TEST AI Act of 2025

Summary#

This bill directs the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to run a pilot program that uses testbeds to develop measurement standards for evaluating artificial intelligence (AI) systems used by Federal agencies. The program must be done in coordination with the Secretary of Energy and guided by an "Artificial Intelligence Testing Working Group." The bill sets deadlines: a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Commerce and Energy within 180 days; the Working Group formed within 90 days after the MOU; a measurement-standards strategy from the Working Group within 1 year; and NIST must build testbeds within 2 years. The Working Group (up to 10 members) will include Commerce, Energy, and NIST representatives plus private sector and academic members, and it bars citizens of China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran from serving. The strategy must identify standards and metrics for reliability, performance, capability, interpretability, security (including data leakage), privacy, data bias, and bounds for applicability. NIST must publish the strategy online, may hire experts, and must report to Congress within 180 days after the first testbed demonstration with findings and recommendations.

What it means for you#

  • Federal agencies: the bill starts a process to create measurement standards and testbeds to evaluate AI systems used by agencies.
  • Researchers, developers, and industrial users: the bill requires publication of the Working Group's strategy, so these stakeholders will be able to see identified metrics, initial target applications, and a blueprint for standards development.
  • Private individuals and companies: the bill creates a pilot and reporting process but does not itself impose new regulatory requirements on nonfederal actors. No publicly available information on direct requirements or mandates for private entities.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on estimated costs, appropriations, or specific funding levels. The bill allows NIST to hire experts but does not specify funding amounts.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information in the bill text about supporters' stated reasons or arguments.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information in the bill text about opponents' stated reasons or arguments.