New AI guidelines from the White House provide a solid framework for using the technology safely, but more investment is needed in the supporting infrastructure to better realize AI’s national security potential, the Defense Department and industry leaders said this week.
President Biden has issued a first memorandum Thursday was intended to provide guidance to national security and intelligence agencies on how to effectively and responsibly use AI to advance U.S. interests.
“If the United States Government does not act with responsible speed and in partnership with industry, civil society, and academia to leverage AI capabilities in service of the national security mission – and to ensure safety, security, and reliability of US AI to ensure innovation broadly – it risks losing ground to strategic competitors,” the document said.
Alex Miller, chief technology officer for the Army chief of staff, said he appreciates the White House’s leadership on this issue, but he worries that a lack of access to and funding for core technologies such as cloud storage and computing power is slowing defense efforts. Integration of AI tools by the department.
“We haven’t done all the infrastructure work to build the core technologies to do AI at scale,” Miller said at the Military Reporters and Editors conference. “If we really take it seriously, we need to invest much more at the national level.”
Matt Steckman, Chief Revenue Officer at Anduril, called for a more robust national push to ensure the U.S. leads competitors like China in AI adoption.
“We need a response at the national level,” said Steckman, who spoke on a panel with Miller. “I hope this memo is the start, but I would go much further to get ahead of the rest as quickly as possible.”
In a briefing Thursday, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan acknowledged “critical gaps” in AI research and development funding. He said the Biden administration will work closely with Congress to increase funding for innovation, along with the other requirements in the memo.
“We have received strong, bipartisan signals of support for this from the Hill,” he said. “It’s time for us to collectively roll up our sleeves on a bicameral, bipartisan basis and get this done.”
Building trust
Throughout the document, the White House emphasizes the importance of building a level of trust in artificial intelligence and calls on national security agencies to implement guardrails to ensure compliance with laws regarding civil rights, human rights, privacy and security .
Organizations that deploy AI must use it in a way that aligns with “democratic values,” the document said.
That means identifying reliable sources that government agencies can rely on for AI-related questions, investing in workforce training, creating standards for evaluating the safety of AI tools, and ensuring systems adhere to federal laws around equality, civil rights and consumer protection.
“Artificial intelligence offers extraordinary possibilities, both promising and dangerous,” the memo said. “Responsible AI use has the potential to help solve pressing challenges while making our world more prosperous, productive, innovative and secure. At the same time, irresponsible use can increase social harm, such as fraud, discrimination, prejudice and disinformation.”
The paper calls for comprehensive analysis related to fostering a robust AI talent pool, assessing the competitiveness of US private sector AI companies, and understanding existing barriers to building a significant AI infrastructure.
It directs the Director of National Intelligence to work with DOD and other federal agencies to identify “critical nodes” in the AI supply chain and establish a regularly updated plan to mitigate risks to those areas.
DOD and the intelligence community should also establish a working group with a wide range of responsibilities – from establishing benchmarks for assessing the safety and effectiveness of AI to accelerating efforts to acquire AI and ensure that the U.S. is a competitive has an industrial AI base.
Courtney Albon is C4ISRNET’s space and emerging technology reporter. Since 2012, she has covered the U.S. military, with a focus on the Air Force and Space Force. She has reported on some of the Department of Defense’s key acquisition, budget, and policy challenges.
Riley Ceder is an editorial assistant at Military Times, where he reports on breaking news, criminal justice and human interest stories. He previously worked as a research practicum student at The Washington Post, where he contributed to the ongoing Abused by the Badge investigation.
