Artificial Intelligence

NIST unveils new AI evaluation platform

The AI Technology Evaluation will provide exclusive data to grade models’ performance in select areas.

People

NIST AI safety center lead departs

Chris Fall was appointed to helm the Center for AI Standards and Innovation in April and has been at the Commerce Department since December 2025.

Cybersecurity

Moving beyond checklists to living digital identity risk management

COMMENTARY | The era of static checklists is over. The future belongs to living, adaptive digital identity programs.

Emerging Tech

From crime labs to space rocks, NIST helps identify mystery chemicals

An expanded federal library of chemical fingerprints helps scientists identify unknown substances found in forensic evidence, drugs, environmental samples and even material collected beyond Earth.

Artificial Intelligence

Lawmakers propose AI framework that would preempt state laws for 3 years

A bipartisan House proposal looks to codify existing programs, set an all-hands-on-deck approach to AI governance and allow for the federal preemption of state AI laws for 3 years.

Modernization

How NIST’s torque tool could help keep air force jets flying

With roots in an unlikely Lego experiment from years ago, a new self-calibrating device developed with the Air Force and Snap-on could make torque calibration faster, more precise and easier to sustain.

Artificial Intelligence

NIST aims for summer release of AI cyber guidelines

Draft iterations of cybersecurity guidance for AI-driven threats across different types of emerging systems are in development as the federal government wades into AI model risk assessments.

Digital Government

NIST is giving fingerprint examiners better tools for a messy job

A newly annotated fingerprint dataset combined with open-source software could help forensic examiners work more consistently, train more effectively and sort through evidence faster.

Policy

Trump’s FY27 budget proposes boosts and cuts to tech operations

Agencies like CISA, NIST and the IRS would see notable reductions in their budgets for next year, while programs at Energy and the VA would get additional financial support.

People

NIST director nominee commits to support AI standards-setting, manufacturing

Arvind Raman told lawmakers that it is “vitally important” that the U.S. lead in global standards-setting so that the country’s values are entrenched in AI development.

Emerging Tech

Getting quantum tech from research to commercialization requires partnership, federal experts say

Federal experts working in quantum information sciences and technology mapped out commercialization paths for quantum technologies, specifically quantum computing, at a Thursday hearing.

Ideas

Building quantum-safe foundations for federal data resilience

COMMENTARY | A data-first approach can help agencies avoid turning post-quantum cryptography adoption into a multi-year overhaul.

Artificial Intelligence

Is artificial intelligence a friend, foe or frenemy? NIST wants to find out

The standards agency will be hosting a working session to discuss how AI-empowered attacks can be used to sometimes get around traditional defenses.

Emerging Tech

A new lunar benchmark: NIST’s moonlight data brings satellites into focus

NIST is releasing the first set of what it’s calling the Moonlight Radiometric Reference Dataset, a trove of data so precise that it could change the way we see our own planet.

Digital Government

NIST releases final digital identity guidelines after years of drafts

The new guidelines remove mentions of equity that NIST had included in previous draft updates.

Emerging Tech

NIST uncorks the bottle on entire pancreatic cancer genome

The secret to the success of the program was an anonymous cancer patient who fully consented to making the genetic code of her cancer cells publicly available.

Emerging Tech

NIST works to bring more everyday understanding to quantum science

The agency is celebrating 2025 being designated as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology with an educational campaign.

Cybersecurity

Forthcoming NIST profile to address growing AI-cyber challenges

The Cyber AI Profile, currently in development, could help firms better prepare for hackers that use AI tools to enhance their cyberattacks, a top NIST official said at the RSAC Conference.