New Norms, Old Problems: The Department of Defense and the Expanding Hands of Artificial Intelligence

Abstract

In today’s quickly evolving world of technology and interconnectedness, coupled with age old disputes of geopolitics, nation states, and non-state aggression, artificial intelligence (AI) within the United States Department of Defense (DoD) is creating challenges, opportunities, and profound change. This thesis aimed to show, via a 5-year study of scholarly work, media reporting, new government publications on strategies, as well as statements by policy makers and leading technology thinkers, how AI has already affected the DoD in substantial ways and how it is changing its future course. This thesis advanced three threads of themes, weaving them together to paint a picture of how DoD- based AI has altered and continues to alter U.S. national security. First, it revealed an at times strained relationship between the DoD and civilian consumer technology companies. Second, it showed the struggle with new policy within the DoD and U.S. policy makers more broadly. Third, it followed the rise of autonomous technologies, disrupted and enhanced intelligence applications, worldwide cyber intrusion into networks, and how fast-paced change has affected U.S. relations between nation states.