Partially autonomous and intelligent systems have been used in military technology since at least the Second World War, but advances in machine learning and Arti cial Intelligence (AI) represent a turning point in the use of automation in warfare. ough the United States military and intelligence communities are planning for expanded use of AI across their portfolios, many of the most transformative applications of AI have not yet been addressed.
In this piece, we propose three goals for developing future policy on AI and national security: preserving U.S. technological leadership, supporting peaceful and commercial use, and mitigating catastrophic risk. By look- ing at four prior cases of transformative military technology—nuclear, aerospace, cyber, and biotech—we develop lessons learned and recommen- dations for national security policy toward AI.