As with any fast-moving technology area, artificial intelligence (AI) has applications across fields and verticals. Some of these uses represent natural progressions as the key algorithms become more powerful and refined, while others are surprising and novel.
In the national security space, the race is on to make effective use of AI's capabilities in a threat prevention context. This is a multifaceted process, with some stakeholders focusing on defending against AI-driven risk factors and others investigating the use of AI as a countermeasure against hostile activity.
As a senior leader in this field, up-to-the-minute knowledge of AI's capabilities is now a valuable part of your overall understanding. This is why programs such as AI for National Security Leaders from MIT Sloan Executive Education are so valuable. Gaining insights from leaders in the field can help you use AI effectively, rather than being caught off guard.
See more: Watch a five-minute overview of AI for National Security Leaders.
The ever-evolving state of AI and security
Professor Aleksander Madry, one of the expert faculty members behind AI for National Security Leaders, has a simple explanation for why AI expertise is so important in a national security context. It's because the key to modern national security is to receive as much information as possible and process it. Those are both functions that can become more powerful when fueled by machine learning (ML) and other AI algorithms.
U.S. government agencies understand the potential of AI technology as a major area of security development, one that will need to be managed effectively. Over the past year, there have been memoranda on AI policy in defense acknowledging the need to develop new technology while maintaining established values. In practice, this means building more intelligent systems without infringing on citizens' rights and civil liberties.
With a combination of governmental support and outside pressure to develop new solutions faster, it's natural that agencies will need to quickly infuse their own systems with AI capabilities and be on guard against AI threats. This means avoiding the hurdles that can sometimes stymie evolution, including change management challenges, as well as AI-specific issues such as mitigating bias in generative AI algorithms and maintaining the data integrity of huge information resources.
All the potential and difficulties facing corporate leaders as they adopt AI infrastructure are magnified in the national security space. The need to implement AI governance to enforce the responsible use of sensitive and highly regulated data is one such challenge, as is the danger of falling behind the technological curve.
Read more: Learn what leadership skills are necessary to keep up with AI's pace and see how MIT Sloan Executive Education is providing courses that acknowledge AI's evolution.
Harnessing AI-driven national security solutions
Becoming a skilled AI user in a national security context means understanding what AI algorithms are capable of, as well as their limitations. These facts are always evolving, with each new performance benchmark reached or algorithm introduced, which underlines the importance of high-quality technical education.
Practical and ethical principles for developing future algorithms are another important piece of the puzzle from a homeland security perspective. The next few years will doubtless see agencies pour extra funds and efforts into AI development, and it's important to ensure that these new products come with an appropriate level of human oversight to keep the emerging technology both useful and trustworthy.
Rob Dietel, director of MIT Sloan Executive Education executive programs, notes that beyond adopting cutting-edge technology, there's a need for cultural change if agencies are to smoothly integrate AI into their operations. The same change management issues that could hold a corporation back from seamless use of AI — such as skills gaps or rigid existing technology stacks — remain relevant in a security context.
Useful skills you'll learn as part of MIT Sloan Executive Education's national security curriculum include:
- Management ability to oversee cross-departmental AI projects. Since AI is such a wide-ranging development area, it will be necessary to coordinate multiple teams when creating the next generation of solutions.
- Ethical considerations to mitigate AI systems risks and biases. Generative AI algorithms' output is shaped by the quality of the data they ingest, so AI governance is a key skill to prevent these systems from producing harmful, inaccurate results.
- Human-digital collaboration skills to integrate AI into decision-making workflows. Using powerful new AI tools requires effective prompt engineering, as well as comprehension of the technology's proper use and its limitations as a tool for human users.
Read more: Learn how executive education can prepare participants to move quickly in the AI space.
Resisting AI-powered security threats
Of course, there are two sides to AI safety in national security. The same types of powerful algorithms that can provide intelligent, proactive warnings about impending threats can become dangerous cybersecurity risks in the hands of state-sponsored or independent attackers.
Performing optimally as a national security decision-maker means being aware of these threats and risk factors and preparing effective countermeasures. Considering how quickly the state of the art can change AI, it's easy to imagine agencies being taken off-guard by the latest developments in AI-powered cybercrime.
Recent years have seen high-level attacks against critical infrastructure such as the power grid. The risk of cybersecurity threats becoming more sophisticated through the use of powerful new algorithms is reason enough for national security leaders to stay aware of the latest AI solutions.
Leaders will have to ask themselves about the resilience of their digital systems in the months and years ahead. If your infrastructure is not up to the threat posed by adversarial AI use, that will be a major liability.
Read more: Learn what leadership skills are necessary to keep up with AI's pace.
Deepen your department's secure engagement with AI
The wide scope of AI's uses means leaders at every level in every branch of government must think about its applications going forward. The Department of Defense, every branch of the military, and the civilian organizations that consult with these services all have responsibility for getting up to speed with AI technology.
The MIT Sloan Executive Education course AI for National Security Leaders exists to fulfill this need for knowledge. The course is completely focused on building AI expertise in a defense context and is therefore limited to United States citizens who are active members of the military or senior executives within the U.S. government (covering GS-15, SES, and military O-6, Flag, or equivalent).
The curriculum is aimed at leaders who are committed to advancing their understanding of AI's role in defense, intelligence, and security. The course provides the tools to both anticipate and counteract emerging threats. It provides an in-depth, up-to-date view of AI that comes directly from a faculty team made up of industry experts.
As a participant, you'll engage with your fellow defense executives from all military branches and throughout the intelligence community, forming working groups and performing insightful exercises as you:
- Learn how to navigate the technical, ethical, and operational challenges of AI policy building and tech adoption in a homeland security context.
- Acquire tools to integrate AI infrastructure effectively across departments, enhancing coordination and creating an easier path to long-term success.
- Prepare to counter AI-driven threats, maintaining a technological and strategic edge over threat actors.
When emerging technology goes through periods of rapid change, keeping up becomes a priority that leaders can't afford to ignore.
Learn more or enroll in AI for National Security Leaders today.