Artificial intelligence presents both extraordinary opportunities and significant challenges as it transforms industries and reshapes national security. To address the complexities that AI brings to the nation’s economy and security, Vanderbilt University experts: Retired General Paul Nakasone, founding director of the Vanderbilt National Security Institute, and Jesse Spencer, interim director of the Data Science Institute. Smith shared important insights. A bipartisan group of Congressional staff on Capitol Hill.
Nakasone, former commander of the U.S. Cyber Command and head of the National Security Agency, and Spencer Smith, a leading AI researcher, will be appointed by the Congressional Staff Association for Artificial Intelligence, a bicameral, bipartisan organization, to Invited to one monthly lecture. A speaker series that demystifies AI concepts and technology.
By partnering with key stakeholders like experts at Vanderbilt University, CSA.ai aims to help Congressional staff develop AI policy and understand the impact of AI on industry, security, and regulation. That’s what I’m aiming for. The group includes Vanderbilt’s Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.), Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), Rep. Zach Nunn (R-Iowa), and Rep. Don Beyer. It is sponsored by a bipartisan group of members, including (Democratic) virginia
How AI will impact security and industry
At the event, Spencer-Smith will provide an overview of the technical foundations of AI, and how AI has evolved from basic machine learning to today’s generative AI, which can perform complex tasks and approach human-level reasoning abilities. He explained how it evolved. He pointed to the evolution of ChatGPT. ChatGPT struggled on the SAT in 2019, but is now able to rank among the top 500 students.
Mr. Nakasone discussed the opportunities AI presents for logistics, autonomous technology, and national security, including how AI can help prevent future cyberattacks.
“As a former commander of the U.S. Cyber Command and director of the NSA, it’s no surprise that my thoughts on how AI could enhance military capabilities immediately occurred to me,” Nakasone said. “AI is the most important and disruptive technology of our time. In the autonomous realm, it has the potential to support our efforts to integrate multi-source intelligence into something actionable.”
However, they noted that these opportunities come with significant challenges. Spencer-Smith emphasized that modern AI systems require a huge amount of computation to work in this way. For example, ChatGPT 3.5 training requires approximately 50 gigawatt hours for 100 days, which is enough power to power 30 million homes in one day. He also raised privacy concerns around AI’s reliance on vast amounts of personal data and emphasized the importance of protecting individual privacy.
Examples of federal AI strategies
Mr. Nakasone advocated the need for a federal strategy on AI to address ethical considerations, workforce displacement, and global competition. He also pointed to challenges posed by a patchwork of state-level regulations and called for richer dialogue between sectors to address issues such as data privacy and investments in the AI workforce.
Mr. Nakasone spoke about the important role the National Defense Education Act played during the Cold War and the need to renew that effort with a focus on digital education to meet today’s challenges.
“When the Soviet Union launched Sputnik in 1957, Congress responded quickly with funding to support the nation’s efforts to respond to and win the Cold War. What will it take to create the next generation of leaders? To solve our challenges, we need leaders who have a voice in both norms and policy.”
He specifically addressed Vanderbilt University’s thinking on how to prepare graduate and undergraduate students for the future of work in light of the realities of AI, and challenged the audience to think seriously about the challenges at hand.
Engagement with Congressional Staff
Congressional staff were eager to speak with Nakasone and Spencer-Smith on a wide range of topics, from data privacy to U.S. leadership in AI. Nakasone and Spencer Smith address questions about AI sovereignty, workforce adaptation, and the role of semiconductors in the global AI race, highlighting the need for a strategic approach to remain competitive did. Many of the questions asked by staff pertained to areas of active research and debate in which Vanderbilt experts specialize.
Vanderbilt’s Office of Federal Relations facilitated Nakasone and Spencer Smith’s participation in this event, strengthening Vanderbilt’s influence on policy by connecting Congressional staff with university experts and thought leaders. I raised it.
“As AI continues to reshape the nation and the world, Vanderbilt University continues to lead the conversation on responsible innovation and policy development and ensure that technological advances benefit society while protecting privacy and security.” We are committed to doing so,” said Heather Blumhardt, director of federal relations. Vanderbilt University.
After the event, CSA.ai shared photos and highlights on social media, celebrating the important contributions of Vanderbilt professionals.
