AI

Research & Data

Comprehensive, cited analysis of AI's impact on national security, the workforce, and society. All claims are backed by credible sources.

National Security Threats

AI-driven risks to American defense and sovereignty

Autonomous Weapons Proliferation
The AI arms race is accelerating without international regulation

The National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI) delivered a stark warning: the U.S. is not prepared to defend or compete in the AI era. The commission's final report stresses that America's scope for action is shrinking and calls for a whole-of-nation effort to accelerate AI innovation for national security.

Key Findings:

  • • The DoD's 2026 budget request includes $13.4 billion for autonomy and autonomous systems
  • • Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) are being deployed in conflicts without global regulation
  • • The UN is pushing for a legally binding treaty by 2026, but key adversaries are unlikely to comply
  • • DoD policy requires "meaningful human control," but pressure exists to match adversary capabilities
NSCAI Final ReportDoD AI StrategyUN LAWS Discussions
AI-Accelerated Cyber Warfare
Generative AI is democratizing sophisticated cyberattacks

Generative AI has dramatically lowered the barrier to entry for malicious actors. Security leaders expect to face daily AI-driven attacks by 2025. The speed and scale of AI-generated attacks threaten to overwhelm current cyber defenses.

Critical Vulnerabilities:

  • • AI enables more effective phishing campaigns and malware creation at scale
  • • National infrastructure (power grids, financial systems, defense networks) faces unprecedented risk
  • • Attack speed may surpass human response capabilities
  • • Current cybersecurity frameworks were not designed for AI-native threats
Cybersecurity Industry ReportsCISA AI Guidance
Foreign Disinformation Campaigns
AI-powered influence operations targeting American democracy

The FBI and Director of National Intelligence have issued warnings that foreign adversaries (Russia, China, Iran) are using generative AI to interfere in U.S. elections. These campaigns create realistic deepfakes, spread disinformation, and exploit social divisions.

Active Threats:

  • • Deepfake videos of political figures designed to mislead voters
  • • AI-generated content amplifying divisive narratives on social media
  • • Targeted disinformation campaigns in specific congressional districts
  • • Erosion of trust in democratic institutions and electoral processes
FBI Public WarningsDNI Threat Assessments

Workforce Disruption

Economic impact of AI-driven automation

Most Vulnerable Industries
Sectors facing the highest risk of AI-driven job displacement

Transportation & Logistics

150,000+

Jobs at risk from autonomous trucking and delivery systems

Administrative Support

200,000+

Administrative and office support roles vulnerable to automation

Manufacturing

25%

Of assembly and QC tasks automatable within 5 years

Customer Service

High Risk

AI chatbots replacing call center and support roles

Bureau of Labor StatisticsMIT Future of Work
Geographic Hotspots
States and regions most vulnerable to AI-driven job loss

The impact of AI automation is not distributed evenly. Certain states face disproportionate risk due to their economic composition and concentration of vulnerable industries.

Midwest (Ohio, Indiana, Michigan)

High Risk

Heavy concentration of manufacturing and logistics jobs

South (Texas, Florida, Tennessee)

Medium-High Risk

Large back-office and call center operations

Transportation Hubs (CA, IL, PA)

Medium-High Risk

High number of trucking and warehouse jobs

The "Hollowing Out" Effect
AI is degrading jobs, not just eliminating them

A critical but often overlooked impact: AI may not eliminate entire jobs, but it automates the most valuable tasks, leading to wage stagnation and reduced career advancement opportunities. This "hollowing out" of middle-skill work is already occurring.

Daron Acemoglu (MIT)Economic Policy Institute

Societal Well-being

Mental health and democratic values at risk

Algorithm-Driven Mental Health Crisis
The human cost of engagement-optimized AI systems

Research increasingly links algorithm-driven social media to rising rates of anxiety, depression, and social isolation—particularly among young people. These systems are designed for engagement, not well-being.

Center for Humane TechnologyPublic Health Studies
Concentration of Power
A handful of companies control transformative technology

The most powerful AI systems are controlled by a small number of tech companies. This concentration of power raises fundamental questions about accountability, transparency, and democratic governance.

Shoshana Zuboff - Surveillance Capitalism

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