The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has unveiled two major initiatives to strengthen America’s AI ecosystem: the Integrated Data Systems and Services (NSF IDSS) program and the integration of 10 datasets into the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) Pilot.

The NSF IDSS program will support the creation and scaling of national data systems that allow researchers to access, share and use scientific data more effectively. The initiative will fund new platforms, expand successful regional systems to national scale, and provide planning grants for future projects. IDSS will also focus on workforce development to manage these systems, reinforcing U.S. competitiveness in AI and beyond.

In parallel, NSF announced 10 datasets for integration into the NAIRR Pilot, including resources from Johns Hopkins University, the Broad Institute, UC San Diego and the University of Michigan. Covering domains from microbiome research to terrain mapping, the datasets will power AI literacy, research and domain-specific innovation.

“Data infrastructure and access to high-quality datasets are critical components of a thriving AI innovation ecosystem. But these efforts go beyond building data infrastructure — they will sharpen America’s competitive edge and lay the foundation for a new era of leadership in science and innovation,” Katie Antypas, director of the NSF Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure, said.

The moves align with the White House AI Action Plan, which emphasizes infrastructure and datasets as critical to advancing U.S. leadership in AI research, education and innovation.