---
title: "An AI policy tool for today: Invest in NIST"
description: "Effective AI policy depends on accurately describing and quantifying systems’ capabilities and risks, but widely agreed methods for comprehensive assessment remain lacking. The proposal calls for ambitious federal funding for NIST to expand its AI measurement and standards work, building on efforts including the Face Recognition Vendor Test and AI Risk Management Framework. Additional resources could support standardized measurement techniques and community infrastructure such as testbeds for open-ended systems, with Anthropic recommending a $15 million increase over FY 2023, inclusive of NIST’s requested $5 million increase. The post presents this as a “shovel-ready” complement to internal controls, independent audits, and public-interest regulation. It argues that rigorous evaluation could identify risks before deployment, improve public trust and governmental confidence, and create incentives for safer innovation."
---

# An AI policy tool for today: Invest in NIST

[Anthropic](https://yomu.fyi/company/anthropic) · Sep 9, 2026

**Type:** Problem & solution

## Summary

Effective AI policy depends on accurately describing and quantifying systems’ capabilities and risks, but widely agreed methods for comprehensive assessment remain lacking. The proposal calls for ambitious federal funding for NIST to expand its AI measurement and standards work, building on efforts including the Face Recognition Vendor Test and AI Risk Management Framework. Additional resources could support standardized measurement techniques and community infrastructure such as testbeds for open-ended systems, with Anthropic recommending a $15 million increase over FY 2023, inclusive of NIST’s requested $5 million increase. The post presents this as a “shovel-ready” complement to internal controls, independent audits, and public-interest regulation. It argues that rigorous evaluation could identify risks before deployment, improve public trust and governmental confidence, and create incentives for safer innovation.

## Context

Rapid progress and wider deployment of AI systems have exposed significant capabilities and risks, including behaviors that may emerge abruptly during training or become apparent only after deployment. The post argues that effective regulation requires reliable ways to measure these systems, while existing methods for comprehensively assessing risks are not widely agreed upon and NIST’s AI-related programs have been under-resourced.

## Approach / What changed

Increase federal funding for NIST so it can expand AI measurement and standards work, standardize fundamental measurement techniques, and build community resources such as testbeds for evaluating open-ended AI systems. The proposal positions this work as a complement to internal controls, independent audits, and regulatory or legislative frameworks.

## Takeaways

- NIST’s existing AI-related work includes the Face Recognition Vendor Test, the AI Risk Management Framework, and measurement research based on its databases.
- The recommendation is for a $15 million increase over FY 2023 funding for AI-related NIST programs, including NIST’s requested $5 million increase.
- The proposal treats rigorous evaluation as one part of a portfolio approach to AI governance rather than a complete solution to all AI risks.

**Tags:** [AI](https://yomu.fyi/topic/ai), [AI Governance](https://yomu.fyi/topic/ai-governance), [Testing](https://yomu.fyi/topic/testing)

- Source: [Anthropic](https://www.anthropic.com/news/an-ai-policy-tool-for-today-ambitiously-invest-in-nist)
- Source URL: https://www.anthropic.com/news/an-ai-policy-tool-for-today-ambitiously-invest-in-nist
- Ingested by Yomu: 2026-09-09T20:03:00.521Z

[Read original post](https://www.anthropic.com/news/an-ai-policy-tool-for-today-ambitiously-invest-in-nist)