The Imperative for Artificial Intelligence

The United States enjoys a long track record of dominating conventional military operations, driven in large part by our technological superiority -- the nation's ability to develop new capabilities and rapidly integrate them into military operations. However, continued dominance is not assured. Whereas in the past the military funded most major technology breakthroughs and thus could prevent potential adversaries' access, today commercial entities lead the development of cutting-edge technology, providing rivals with the opportunity to obtain and rapidly operationalize advanced capabilities, weakening America's traditional advantages. To protect the U.S. military's technological edge, government, industry and academia must work together to develop and operationalize artificial intelligence, the technology most likely to drive outcomes on future battlefields. The 2018 National Defense Strategy places a strong focus on AI as an emerging technology that will change society and ultimately the character of war.