WASHINGTON (TND) — As threats from China and Russia continue to grow, lawmakers are pressuring the Pentagon's technology chiefs to step up efforts to enhance the use of advanced technologies such as cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
As more adversaries continue to use technology to expand their military capabilities, Congress is also debating how to best protect the nation's critical infrastructure and defense industry, improving cybersecurity and expanding the military's technological capabilities. Improvement has become one of the major challenges facing national security and defense agencies in the future.
Several leaders from the U.S. defense and intelligence agencies have appeared before Congress to warn of the grave threats facing the United States as technology continues to advance, and to urge lawmakers and the White House to take action.
Lawmakers called on top Pentagon technology officials to develop systems faster and give soldiers the tools they need to deal with more advanced threats.
“No one expects the Department of Defense, the world's largest bureaucracy, to make a dime. It's an aircraft carrier, not a small corvette, but it's important for this department to get what our soldiers need. I don't think any of our members believe that we are moving with the speed, momentum, and unity of action that we need,” said Rep. Mike Gallagher (R). -Wis.
Officials who testified at the hearing said that this includes partnering with private companies and contracting with the high-tech sector to help develop software and programs to support defense initiatives to provide what soldiers need. It detailed a long list of Department of Defense moves to enhance its adoption and innovation.
“It is more important than ever to provide Department of Defense personnel with secure and resilient software when and where they need it. We recognize the urgency of this issue and are committed to ensuring We are working hard to ensure success,” said John Sherman, the Pentagon's chief information officer.
Intelligence agencies have identified China as a major cyber threat to national security due to concerns that the technology it exports could contain malware and allow hackers to target critical infrastructure and defense systems. . The Chinese government has been building up its cyber capabilities over the years through large-scale investments in various areas of the technology sector, and U.S. intelligence leaders believe that Beijing's espionage capabilities are expanding and pose a significant threat to national security. It is claimed that it brings about
“China is doing this today. They're hiring top AI companies to work on their military issues, so this is something we urgently need to get done, too,” said Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Massachusetts. said.
Congress and the Biden administration have sought to counter China's rise by imposing export controls on advanced technology, restrictions on private companies, and preventing U.S.-made technology from facilitating military activities and espionage. The House also cited concerns that TikTok's powerful algorithms could be used to sway public opinion and that the China Security Act could give the Chinese government unfettered access to Americans' data. , also passed a bipartisan bill that would effectively ban TikTok.
The rapid development and expansion of the use of artificial intelligence is driving the need to regulate the artificial intelligence industry and incorporate artificial intelligence into defense systems in order to strengthen military power amid the threats posed by the introduction of artificial intelligence by adversary states. He is also urging the passage of the bill.
The technology has also been adopted by the Department of Defense to pilot surveillance drones and track things flying in space and beyond, and top leaders are still wondering how else to utilize the technology. We are currently exploring ways to improve this ability. Artificial intelligence has already appeared on the battlefield in the war between Russia and Ukraine and in Israel's fight against Hamas.
Several members of Congress have questioned how the Pentagon is approaching AI integration, and how it is not fully integrating AI as China and other adversaries rapidly use it for weapons and espionage. He questioned whether progress was being made at a reasonable pace. Defense leaders are working to further incorporate AI into systems to better support soldiers, while also addressing the risks of more tasks becoming fully automated by machines.
“There is a huge demand signal that AI will replace experts and allow novices to replace experts. That’s where I think the danger is,” said Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer. Craig Martel said. “What I think is most effective is helping experts become better experts, or helping people who know their job better at the job they know best. We want to help you become that person.”
One area where the Department of Defense is investing significant time and resources in AI is the development of AI-enabled self-driving cars, which are also being developed by America's greatest adversaries such as Russia, China, India, and Iran. Last year, the Pentagon announced its Replicator initiative, which focuses on fielding thousands of autonomous systems over the next two years to counter Chinese investments in such weapons systems.
“They're going to be very important,” Martell said of autonomous systems. “We have to keep pushing it forward,” Martel said.
