Okay, so imagine, just imagine, algorithms making calls on a battlefield.
Yeah.
Or even predicting, like, the next global conflict way before it even starts.
That's kind of the world we're heading into, right, as AI gets more powerful.
Right.
Especially in national security.
Yeah.
We've got all these reports and analysis, like a huge stack.
It's crazy.
Yeah.
It really feels like we're opening Pandora's box here.
Yeah.
I mean, it's a puzzle with like half the pieces missing.
Yeah.
And then the picture keeps changing as you're trying to put it together.
Right.
Even experts are arguing, like, what's this even going to look like in the end?
Yeah.
Will AI keep growing at this crazy speed or is it going to fizzle out?
And the thing is, it's not governments leading this whole thing.
Right.
It's these private companies.
Who gives a...
Which throws a whole new wrench into, like, control and ethics.
Yeah.
And just who's going to have the power?
It's scary in a way.
You've got these Silicon Valley companies.
Right.
Some of them, barely 10 years old, making decisions that could totally reshape the world.
It's true.
They've got the talent, they've got the money, and they've got the data.
Yeah.
Which is like the new oil in this AI world.
Speaking of power, what about this whole AI arms race?
Oh, yeah.
Between the US and China.
Huge.
It's like a high stakes poker game.
It is.
With global dominance on the line.
Right now, the US seems to have the upper hand.
Yeah.
You know, they've got this crazy innovative tech sector.
Yeah.
A ton of talent.
Yeah.
And they're still the kings of semiconductor design.
Right.
Those little chips that are like the brains of AI.
Yeah.
The US has a big edge there.
But then you read about China's new generation artificial intelligence development plan.
Oh, yeah.
It sounds like they're going all in.
It is.
Like building a whole new AI world from scratch.
Yeah.
They want to overtake the US, especially in stuff like surveillance and autonomous weapons.
It's kind of scary to think about.
It is.
But imagine algorithms watching every single person.
Or drones making life or death choices on the battlefield.
Right.
That's the future China's betting on.
So if the US wants to stay ahead in this, what do they have to do?
Well, one thing is the CIKS and Science Act.
It's like they're doubling down on making ships here.
They know they can't just rely on other countries for something this important.
Yeah.
It'd be like building a skyscraper with steel you bought from somewhere else.
Right.
And control that supply chain.
Yeah.
So they're securing those building blocks.
Right.
But it sounds like speed is key, too.
Oh, absolutely.
It's not just about having the best tech.
Right.
It's about using it fast and using it right.
Yeah.
And that's where it gets tough because AI is developing so quickly.
Yeah.
It's like trying to hit a moving target while you're still putting the gun together.
And you need the right people to build that gun, right?
Exactly.
Talent seems like another huge factor.
Oh, yeah, for sure.
You could have all the best chips and algorithms in the world, but without the right people
to actually use them, it's useless.
So it's like having a Ferrari with no driver.
Yeah.
The US has always attracted the top AI people.
It has.
But that seems to be changing.
Yeah.
China's really stepping up their game, offering big salaries and access to tons of data, which
is like gold for AI researchers.
It's almost like a reverse brain drain.
Yeah, you could say that.
China's trying to pull the best minds away from the US and other AI hubs.
That's definitely a worry.
Some experts even say China's offering these golden handcuffs, like making it really hard
for people to leave once they're in the system.
Wow.
That adds a whole new layer to this AI competition.
It does.
It's like a cold war, but with algorithms and data scientists instead of spies.
Yeah.
And the stakes are just as high, maybe even higher.
It's true.
Whoever controls AI could control the future of everything.
Yeah.
But the rules are still being written.
Wow.
It's an exciting time to be alive, but also a little scary.
Yeah, I agree.
Definitely.
And here's another thing to think about, all this AI stuff.
It takes a ton of energy.
Oh yeah, I've read about that.
Massive server farms, supercomputers running 24-7, crunching numbers, using up electricity
like crazy.
It's like a paradox.
Yeah.
We need AI to solve big problems like climate change.
But AI itself uses so much energy.
Yeah, it's a real dilemma.
So how do we deal with that?
Well some experts say we need to add tons of clean power to the grid.
Like how much?
Tens, maybe even hundreds of gigawatts.
Oh wow.
Like enough to power whole countries just for these AI systems.
That's mind blowing.
But what about security?
I mean these AI systems, especially the ones they're using for national security, they
need to be super secure, right?
Absolutely.
They need to be hacking and making sure they're actually doing what they're supposed to.
You can't have an AI system controlling nukes or a bunch of drones if it can be hacked or
messed with.
It's like giving the keys to your house to someone you don't trust.
Yeah, exactly.
Which brings us to trust.
I mean if people don't trust AI, they're not going to use it, let alone let it make decisions
that affect their lives.
Especially national security.
Right, where it could affect whole countries.
Imagine an AI system that's supposed to predict terrorist attacks.
If it messes up or people think it's biased or unreliable, it could be a disaster.
Like crying wolf.
Exactly.
People might ignore real warnings or even overreact to false alarms.
So how do we build trust in AI, especially for something as serious as national security?
Well one thing is transparency.
People need to understand how these systems work, what data they're using, how they make
decisions.
Right now it's like a black box.
It is.
Like getting in a self-driving car without knowing how it works.
Exactly.
No one's going to do that.
So we need to open up that black box.
Yeah, show people what's going on inside.
And set up some clear rules.
Definitely guidelines and regulations.
To make sure AI is being used responsibly.
Exactly.
And that's where international cooperation comes in, right?
Oh absolutely.
AI is a global thing.
Yeah, it doesn't stop at borders.
If we want rules for AI, we need to work together as a planet.
What if every country had its own rules for self-driving cars?
Oh man, it would be total chaos.
Same goes for AI.
We need common standards.
It's especially for safety and security.
And ethics, for sure.
I've been reading about the G7's International Code of Conduct on AI and the UN General Assembly
Resolution on AI.
Those are good steps.
Seems like people are realizing we need to get ahead of this.
We do.
It's one thing to talk about responsible AI.
It's another thing to actually make it happen globally.
And of course we can't talk about AI and national security without talking about China.
Yeah, the elephant in the room.
They've made it clear AI is a big deal for them.
It is.
And they're putting a lot of resources into it.
Research development, deployment, the whole thing.
But their approach to AI is kind of worrying.
It is.
It's very different from the West.
It's more centralized, top down.
And they're not as worried about things like privacy or individual rights.
So it's like two different visions of the future clashing.
You could say that.
One where AI helps people and democracy.
And one where it strengthens the state and limits freedom.
It's a clash of values, really, as much as a technology clash.
And the outcome of this is going to be huge for the world.
Yeah, it is.
Like if China's way of doing AI wins out, you know, the authoritarian thing, it could
really hurt democracy and human rights everywhere.
It's a scary thought.
So where do we go from here?
How do we make sure AI is used for good?
Right.
That's the big question, isn't it?
It is.
No easy answers, but I think it starts with awareness.
OK.
We need to learn about what AI can do, both the good and the bad.
Yeah.
And we need to talk about it.
You know, what kind of future do we want?
And it's not just about the tech itself, right?
No, it's about the values we build into it.
If we want AI to be about human rights and democracy.
Exactly.
We have to make sure those values are part of AI from the beginning.
It's like building a house.
If the foundation's weak, the whole thing's going to fall apart.
Same with AI.
If we don't build it on ethics and human values, it could be used for bad stuff.
Yeah.
Even dangerous stuff.
This has been a really eye-opening deep dive.
It has.
We've covered so much from the tech to geopolitics.
And we've only scratched the surface.
Right.
This is a conversation we need to keep having.
Yeah.
Not just in universities or government, but everywhere.
In everyday life.
Exactly.
In schools and companies at home.
The future of AI isn't set in stone.
It's...
We're shaping it right now together.
And it's up to all of us to make sure AI helps humanity.
Well said.
To our listeners, if you want to dig deeper into all this, check out the show notes for
links to everything we talked about.
Keen Aspen questions.
Keep learning and keep the conversation going.
The future is in our hands.