{"id":19644,"date":"2018-01-04T13:08:13","date_gmt":"2018-01-04T13:08:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/01\/04\/alexa-how-does-the-us-lead-in-military-ai\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T16:08:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T16:08:08","slug":"alexa-how-does-the-us-lead-in-military-ai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/industry\/techwatch\/2018\/01\/04\/alexa-how-does-the-us-lead-in-military-ai\/","title":{"rendered":"Alexa, does the US lead in military AI?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 With a special mention in the White House\u2019s National Security Strategy, artificial intelligence has officially become a national priority. But how the Trump administration plans to advance the technology remains unclear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The National Security Strategy, released in December<\/a>, identified artificial intelligence as an emerging technology \u201ccritical to economic growth and security,\u201d noting that \u201cfrom self-driving cars to autonomous weapons, the field of artificial intelligence, in particular, is progressing rapidly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AI is also expected to get a mention in the National Defense Strategy, to be released later this month. And that is a welcome inclusion, said Paul Scharre, a technology expert with the Center for a New American Security think tank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He warns that AI has \u201chuge implications\u201d for national security, and not just for tactical reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cArtificial intelligence and automation could also bring about broader economic and political [factors] that affect foreign policy and international relations,\u201d Scharre said. \u201cFor example, if we see significant economic disruption caused by automation, how nations weather these challenges may play a major role in which nations remain global leaders.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The economic dangers of AI appear to be a primary concern for the authors of the National Security Strategy. That document specifically calls out China for challenging American technological superiority with its investments in AI \u2014 as well as its stealing of U.S. intellectual property in that area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBreaches of U.S. commercial and government organizations also provide adversaries with data and insights into their target audiences,\u201d the NSS reads. \u201cChina, for example, combines data and the use of AI to rate the loyalty of its citizens to the state and uses these ratings to determine jobs and more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

China\u2019s interest in AI has bled to the highest levels, with eagle-eyed Chinese bloggers<\/a> noting that President Xi Jinping prominently displays books about AI and machine learning \u2014 including Pedro Domingos\u2019 \u201cThe Master Algorithm\u201d and Brett King\u2019s \u201cAugmented\u201d \u2014 on his bookshelf. And China\u2019s focus has not been lost on American industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\t