2024 Genius Machines Series!

When you think of artificial intelligence your brain likely goes to the images provided to us by Hollywood, an evil presence with glowing red eyes bent on destruction. We’re used to thinking of AI not as a tool but as an antagonist and a permanent artifact of the future.

AI however, is not the robot that rises over the hill; it’s not the unblinking eye; it is not a friend; it is not against you. It lacks malevolence, compassion, sentience, or will. But it is very real and it will be a defining feature of the military competition between the United States and high-tech adversaries in the decades to come. China, Russia and the US are all pursuing military AI but what sets the US approach apart is the conviction that humans working with AI as a team will outperform pure automation, which characterizes the Russian and Chinese efforts. What that looks like in research, development, military exercises and training will determine future military use of the most important technology of the new century.

The Defense One Genius Machines series, first launched in 2019, brings together top officials in the Defense Department as well as industry leaders, ethicists, academics and innovators on the front lines to cut through the hype on AI to discuss near and far-term futures of AI in national security, best and worst case scenarios, and best practices from key thought leaders. Join Defense One for the return of the forward-looking Genius Machines series looking at the future of AI and what it means for national security.