The national security chief said the agency’s new Artificial Intelligence Security Center is paying off in the Defense Department’s efforts to stay on the cutting edge of rapidly advancing technology.
Air Force Gen. Timothy D. Howe, who also serves as commander of U.S. Cyber Command, said the security center will be critical as the U.S. military continues to explore ways to use, adapt and defend against AI technology.
“One of the areas where we think we can really add value is focusing on the security of that technology — not just in terms of protecting intellectual property, but in terms of how do we defend to make sure those models are being used appropriately,” Howe said at the Billington Cybersecurity Summit event in Washington yesterday.
Howe’s predecessor, Army Gen. Paul M. Nakasone, announced the creation of the center last year to consolidate the agency’s various artificial intelligence and security-related activities.
It will serve as a focal point for NSA to develop best practices, evaluation methodologies and risk frameworks with the goal of facilitating the safe adoption of new AI capabilities across the national security enterprise and defense industrial base.
Howe said the NSA also plays a key role in better understanding the risks of AI in the hands of adversaries and shaping the government’s efforts to protect against those risks.
U.S. officials have highlighted the growing role that AI will play in shaping the national security landscape and have taken steps to shape the future of the emerging technology.
Last year, the Department of Defense released a strategy to accelerate the deployment of advanced AI capabilities to ensure U.S. warfighters maintain a decision-making advantage on the battlefield for years to come.
The Defense Department’s 2023 Data, Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Adoption Strategy will build on the Defense Department’s longstanding leadership in AI development and further strengthen the U.S. competitive advantage in adopting emerging technologies, defense officials said in announcing the blueprint.
In announcing the strategy, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks also emphasized the Department of Defense’s commitment to safety and responsibility as it pushes the frontier of AI. The U.S. is also introducing a Political Declaration on Responsible Military Use of AI, which seeks to further codify norms for the responsible use of the technology.
Howe said the agency remains at the forefront of shaping the Defense Department’s use of technology, with an emphasis on responsibility.
He added that the NSA brings a unique perspective from inside the U.S. government to responsibly shape the future of AI.
