The GUARD Act authorizes the Secretary of Defense to establish one or more National Security and Defense Artificial Intelligence Institutes at eligible universities and military colleges to conduct research on artificial intelligence systems for national defense purposes. These institutes would bring together partnerships among universities, federal agencies, private companies, and other organizations to advance AI research, develop testing facilities, manage secure datasets, and train the next generation of AI workforce. The Defense Department can award financial assistance to eligible host institutions for up to five years, renewable for an additional five years, with funds used for activities like creating AI testbeds, conducting defense-focused research, providing computing resources, and broadening participation in AI fields. All recipients and their partners must be based in the United States. The funding amount is not specified in the legislation, and awards will be made through a competitive, merit-based review process in collaboration with other federal agencies as needed.