Reps. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., and Will Hurd, R-Texas introduced a Congressional resolution detailing a national strategy for artificial intelligence that proposes a unified approach for developing U.S. leadership in AI. Furthermore, the Pentagon, in concurrence with DoD initiatives, established the AI Code of Ethics—which is bolstered by the four core competencies of responsibility, equitability, reliability, and governability.

Artificial Intelligence is a tool that, in the context of DoD initiatives, serves as a vehicle for democracy. In the context of the congressional resolution, Artificial Intelligence is a tool that frees up human capital to pursue other nuanced projects. However, there is surmounting concern for AI’s presence in the workforce—and the world. New positions and opportunities continue to grow for individuals with technical competencies and talent. Yet, for those who are lacking, there is a shrinking pool of positions. In the long-sight, AI would be able to connect disjointed data pools efficiently, quickly, and at a larger scale. In tandem, human talent would then parse the nuance and provide superior depth of intelligence and analysis. The crisis for many touches on job security and the growing need for personnel to re-skill and re-learn to remain at the forefront of data analytics and intelligence gathering processes. The topic is not devoid of contention and is fertile for debate.

More contentious than AI’s growing command in the federal workforce is AI’s utilization as a democratic tool—wherein many other nations, it is an autocratic tool for mass surveillance. The vision imprinted upon AI is salient in determining what kind of world we shape in this sleek age of the digital. This, the Pentagon realizes and has created parameters—which are not internationally recognized—which limit the purposes for which AI is utilized. Moreover, these parameters set guiding markers for analysts, developers, and those analytics firms—such as Praescient—that employ human talent and furnish their platforms with AI. Now, more than ever, we must turn a critical gaze to the growing presence of AI as both a tool and a weapon. As analysts, citizens, and individuals, we must ensure that the vision that is imprinted on AI is one that is equitable, humane, and responsible.