NEW DELHI: NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has announced the appointment of David Salvagnini as the agency’s first chief artificial intelligence (AI) officer, an expansion of his current responsibilities as chief data officer. This nomination represents a significant step in NASA’s commitment to integrating artificial intelligence technologies across missions and operations to support discovery and enhance performance.
A press release from NASA said Salvagnini, whose career spans more than two decades of technology leadership in the intelligence community, has assumed his novel position, effective immediately. His extensive experience includes service in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and 21 years in the Air Force as a communications and computer systems officer.
In his statement, Nelson emphasized the importance of artificial intelligence in NASA’s efforts: “Artificial intelligence has been safely used at NASA for decades, and as this technology advances, it has the potential to accelerate the rate of discovery,” he said. “It is crucial that we remain at the forefront of progress and responsible exploit. In this novel role, David will lead NASA’s efforts to guide our agency’s responsible exploit of artificial intelligence in space and on Earth for the benefit of all humanity.”
The creation of this position is consistent with President Biden’s recent Executive Order on the Secure, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Employ of Artificial Intelligence, which aims to ensure the ethical and unthreatening deployment of artificial intelligence technologies. Salvagnini will lead in aligning NASA’s strategic AI vision and planning, promoting innovation, and managing the development of AI tools and training.
Salvagnini’s responsibilities will also include continuing NASA’s collaboration with other government agencies, academic institutions, industry partners and experts to ensure the agency remains at the forefront of artificial intelligence technology. This collaboration is indispensable as NASA uses artificial intelligence in a variety of applications, from analyzing Earth science images to managing communications with spacecraft such as the Perseverance Mars rover.
Prior to Salvagnini’s appointment, NASA’s Chief Scientist Kate Calvin served as the interim acting artificial intelligence officer, highlighting the critical role artificial intelligence has played and will continue to play in NASA’s science and exploration missions.
A press release from NASA said Salvagnini, whose career spans more than two decades of technology leadership in the intelligence community, has assumed his novel position, effective immediately. His extensive experience includes service in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and 21 years in the Air Force as a communications and computer systems officer.
In his statement, Nelson emphasized the importance of artificial intelligence in NASA’s efforts: “Artificial intelligence has been safely used at NASA for decades, and as this technology advances, it has the potential to accelerate the rate of discovery,” he said. “It is crucial that we remain at the forefront of progress and responsible exploit. In this novel role, David will lead NASA’s efforts to guide our agency’s responsible exploit of artificial intelligence in space and on Earth for the benefit of all humanity.”
The creation of this position is consistent with President Biden’s recent Executive Order on the Secure, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Employ of Artificial Intelligence, which aims to ensure the ethical and unthreatening deployment of artificial intelligence technologies. Salvagnini will lead in aligning NASA’s strategic AI vision and planning, promoting innovation, and managing the development of AI tools and training.
Salvagnini’s responsibilities will also include continuing NASA’s collaboration with other government agencies, academic institutions, industry partners and experts to ensure the agency remains at the forefront of artificial intelligence technology. This collaboration is indispensable as NASA uses artificial intelligence in a variety of applications, from analyzing Earth science images to managing communications with spacecraft such as the Perseverance Mars rover.
Prior to Salvagnini’s appointment, NASA’s Chief Scientist Kate Calvin served as the interim acting artificial intelligence officer, highlighting the critical role artificial intelligence has played and will continue to play in NASA’s science and exploration missions.
