Congress wants to pour hundreds of billions (yes with a B) of dollars into the federal government to increase the nation's competitiveness in emerging technology and, in particular, to accelerate the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies that are vital to protecting our national security. The bipartisan support shown for the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) – the bill that provides these funds – is a noteworthy and important step in ensuring the United States is resilient and competitive in the 21st century. And that kind of money is nothing to sneeze at. But can the federal government manage to spend it? Thanks to China's aggressive, whole-of-nation approach to emerging technology and the ubiquity of AI technologies that adversaries big and small are now poised to exploit, there is a sudden urgency around AI and national security.

Bradford specializes in matters related to trade secrets and Artificial Intelligence. He is the Chair of the AI Subcommittee of the ABA. Recognized by the Daily Journal in 2019 as one of the Top 20 AI attorneys in California, Bradford has been instrumental in proposing federal AI workplace and IP legislation that in 2018 was turned into a United States House of Representatives Discussion Draft bill. He has also developed AI oversight and corporate governance best practices designed to ensure algorithmic fairness. What was it that initially ignited your interest in artificial intelligence?

Will Hurd and Robin Kelly are from opposite sides of the ever-widening aisle, but they share a concern that the United States may lose its grip on artificial intelligence, threatening the American economy and the balance of world power. They want to cut off China's access to AI-specific silicon chips and push Congress and federal agencies to devote more resources to advancing and safely deploying AI technology. Although Capitol Hill is increasingly divided, the bipartisan duo claims to see an emerging consensus that China poses a serious threat and that supporting US tech development is a vital remedy. Kelly, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, says that she has found many Republicans, not just Hurd, the only Black Republican in the House, open to working together on tech issues. "I think people in Congress now understand that we need to do more than we have been doing," she says.

US representatives Will Hurd and Robin Kelly are from opposite sides of the ever-widening aisle, but they share a concern that the US may lose its grip on artificial intelligence, threatening the American economy and the balance of world power. Thursday, Hurd (R-Texas) and Kelly (D-Illinois) offered suggestions to prevent the US from falling behind China, especially, on applications of AI to defense and national security. They want to cut off China's access to AI-specific silicon chips and push Congress and federal agencies to devote more resources to advancing and safely deploying AI technology. Although Capitol Hill is increasingly divided, the bipartisan duo claim to see an emerging consensus that China poses a serious threat and that supporting US tech development is a vital remedy. "American leadership and advanced technology has been critical to our success since World War II, and we are in a race with the government of China," Hurd says. "It's time for Congress to play its role."

National security and antitrust are rarely part of the same conversation. The realities of today's AI ecosystem should challenge that dynamic. American AI innovation is concentrated in the private sector--particularly within its largest, most dominant firms. As these firms face antitrust scrutiny, policymakers and lawmakers alike need to consider the AI ecosystem that they will have a hand in creating. They will need to contemplate its competitiveness, its innovativeness, its responsiveness to defense and national-security needs, and its accessibility to government.

This week, I talk to Brendan McCord, who wrote the Pentagon's AI strategy and is now a Special Government Employee at the National Security Commission on AI. Brendan talks about what he believes the US needs to do to stay competitive with China and promote an alternative vision of AI-powered security and prosperity to the world.

This video establishes a baseline understanding of disruptive technology (DT), artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomy aimed at NATO policymakers and senior military officials. It explains disruptive technology and its historical importance for military innovation and changes in warfare, in addition to the current state of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems technology. The video features experts Dr. Andrew Moore, Dean of the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University and Co-Chair of the CNAS Task Force on AI and National Security, and Paul Scharre, Senior Fellow and Director of the Technology and National Security Program at CNAS and Executive Director of the CNAS Task Force on AI and National Security.