National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI) There was an independent commission established in 2018 in the US to recommend to the President and Congress how to “advance the development of artificial intelligence, machine learning and related technologies to comprehensively address the national security and defense needs of the United States.” It finished it’s work in 2021.
The committee’s final report presents its recommendations to achieve supremacy for the US in the age of artificial intelligence. The 16 chapters explain the steps the United States must take to use artificial intelligence responsibly for national security and defense, defend against artificial intelligence threats, and promote artificial intelligence innovation.
The authors of the report refer to artificial intelligence as an ability that changes the rules of the game. They quote the Thomas Edison who said about electricity “It is a field of fields…it holds the secrets which will reorganize the life of the world” With the understanding that our knowledge and the applications we know today are only the beginning of the road. It is also clear that the rate of change and innovation will continue to accelerate.
They refer to artificial intelligence as a source of development innovation and the improvement of the world and at the same time look at the risks inherent in it, pointing to the existence of competition between blocs to achieve technological superiority and misuse of technology by various countries and militant groups.
The race for supremacy in artificial intelligence technologies is also a value struggle. China’s use of artificial intelligence is a chilling precedent for anyone who cherishes individual freedom. Its use of AI as a tool of repression and surveillance within China’s borders, and increasingly abroad, stands in stark contrast to how we would like to see the uses of artificial intelligence.
The authors believe that the future of artificial intelligence can be democratic. We have learned enough about the power of technology in strengthening authoritarian regimes and fueling extremism to know that we should not take for granted that future technological trends will strengthen democracy and not erode it.
They state that there is a need to collaborate with other democracies and the private sector to build protective standards and norms in the use of AI so that democracies can responsibly use AI tools for national security purposes.
NSCAI’s final report presents a recommendation for an integrated national strategy to restructure government, reorient the US market, and mobilize US allies and partners in the worldview to protect and compete in an era of accelerating competition in artificial intelligence development.
Part I of the report deals with “Protecting America in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”, describes the risk, explains what the United States must do to defend against the spectrum of threats related to artificial intelligence, and recommends how the US government can use artificial intelligence technologies to protect the American people and his interests.
Part II, “Winning the Technology Race,” addresses the critical elements of the race to lead AI and recommends actions the government should take to advance AI innovation to improve national competitive advantage and protect critical U.S. assets.
To the website of the National Security Committee for Artificial Intelligence
