As artificial intelligence gets more sophisticated, federal policymakers have to reckon with what that means for national security.

With AI, the weapon can also be the shield. We examine how the U.S. is embracing AI as a tool to bolster its cyber defenses and what Congress is doing on the issue.

We also preview what’s on the horizon for AI policy and cybersecurity as part of our larger project on the ever-evolving technology.

Current State of Play in Washington

Hackers targeting major U.S. entities — whether they’re acting on behalf of nation-states or independently — have used artificial intelligence to their advantage. The result is a broadening of the cybersecurity threat landscape.

The irony, of course, is that AI can also help defend against cyberattacks.

Chief among America’s adversaries are China and Russia, which have the intelligence community concerned about the use of AI to conduct cyber espionage, according to a recent assessment of national security threats.

Beijing is mulling “aggressive cyber operations” targeting the United States if China’s leaders believe a major conflict is imminent, the report says. And Moscow can target critical infrastructure, including “underwater cables and industrial control systems.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. government is looking to use the technology to bolster cybersecurity at federal agencies and private companies.

Congressional considerations: Members of Congress concerned about cybersecurity are delving into the AI world by first working to mitigate the potential harms that inevitably come with the technology. 

The broad goal here is to ensure AI does more to bolster U.S. cybersecurity than it does to help facilitate attacks on critical infrastructure, including power grids and other basic government operations.

Earlier this year, the House established a bipartisan task force on AI that has been meeting regularly for several weeks now. Over in the Senate, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is spearheading a bipartisan effort that began with educating lawmakers about AI, including the benefits and risks associated with it. Both efforts are in their early stages, though, so we don’t expect legislative action in the near term.

We’ll delve later in this edition into the legislative options Congress is considering and where they stand.

The Spotlight Interview

Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) is the chair of the House’s AI task force. He’s also the only member of Congress with a master’s degree in AI and is playing a leading role in developing cybersecurity policy.

We recently spoke with him about what Congress can do regarding AI and how government agencies and private companies can use the technology to harden their cyber defenses. 

Here are Obernolte’s remarks. They have been edited for brevity and clarity.

The Policy Pipeline

AI technology is evolving at a rapid speed, posing a new quagmire for lawmakers who are accustomed to the slow churn of the legislative process. 

Any policy Congress passes on AI would need to withstand both the quick advancements of the technology and the political winds that change every two years.

The challenge for lawmakers is to get people from both parties and chambers as well as the industry on board if Congress is to come up with an iron-clad AI policy.

Working together: So far, the issue has proven to be a rare bipartisan effort in a deeply divided Congress as lawmakers in opposite parties team up on AI and cybersecurity legislation.

For instance, Sens. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) recently introduced the AI and Critical Technology Workforce Framework Act. 

The goal of their bill is to grow the AI workforce and discourage foreign outsourcing by modernizing standards for the use of AI in cybersecurity and other fields. Schmitt said the bill has “endless” potential to boost defense capabilities.

Earlier in March, the House Oversight Committee approved the Federal AI Governance and Transparency Act. This legislation, co-authored by the panel’s top Republican and Democrat, would establish guidelines for the use of AI in the federal government.

Even as lawmakers sound the alarm about AI and its promises and perils, the path for legislation remains unclear.

In the meantime, the White House has been busy promoting various efforts on the issue, including a comprehensive executive order that, among other initiatives, promotes AI education in the federal government.

— Andrew Desiderio