H.R. 7968 — Small AI Innovators Empowerment Act

This section directs the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and in consultation with the Small Business Administration Administrator, to seek an agreement with an entity with relevant expertise (e.g., a federally funded research and development center), subject to the availability of appropriations, to conduct a study on challenges faced by U.S. small artificial intelligence businesses. The study must include (1) an analysis of federal and non-federal funding opportunities, including early- and seed-stage data, federal funding accessibility and timelines, physical asset collateral requirements, and non-federal options; (2) usage and impacts of research and development tax credits; (3) use of accelerators and incubators; (4) downstream federal policy impacts, including differences in technology stacks (i.e., technologies, tools, and infrastructure) across AI ecosystem layers, regulatory uncertainty on exits and acquisitions, and partnerships/competition policy effects; (5) talent recruitment and retention challenges; (6) other challenges as determined appropriate; and (7) proposals and recommendations to address such challenges. This section defines "artificial intelligence" by reference to 15 U.S.C. 9401, "U.S. small artificial intelligence business" as a for-profit entity headquartered in the U.S. whose primary activity is creating, developing, or customizing AI products or services, that operates primarily in the U.S. or significantly contributes to the U.S. economy, is independently owned (including with private equity or institutional backing), and employs 250 or fewer people, and "technology stacks" as the collection of technologies, tools, and infrastructure used by such businesses.