Transportation uses AI to vet research grant recipients for foreign adversary ties

The U.S. Department of Transportation is using AI tools to analyze research grant recipients for links to China, Russia and Iran. AI advisor Neil Chaudhry said the checks focus on funding sources and ties to CCP leadership or Russian oligarchs, not nationality.

• DOT screens grant recipients for links to CCP leadership and Russian oligarchs
• AI tools trace startup funding chains through venture capital firms
• The capability is not listed in the agency's published AI use case inventory
• GAO flagged foreign access risks to federally funded research in 2024