Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a topic of great excitement and hype in recent years. On the second day of the Intelligence and National Security Summit hosted by Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA) and AFCEA, leaders from industry, Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and National Security Agency (NSA) gathered together to discuss scaling-out AI capabilities. ODNI IC AIM Director Rachel Grunspan shared that as we move forward with AI, everyone is doing their best with the resources and constraints, so patience is important. And Grunspan is right. While AI has seemingly exploded with ChatGPT hitting the scenes this past year, the IC has a lot to consider as they implement new capabilities.
Emotional Shifts in the Workplace
The world of AI became seemingly exciting overnight. But as organizations look to incorporate AI into their workflows, it is crucial to strike a balance between the AI hype machine and the actual problems that need solving, according to Dr. Patrick Biltgen, principal at Booz Allen. He explained that the key lies in identifying the specific problems and finding the right solutions rather than simply sprinkling AI onto everything as an afterthought.
Dr. Biltgen cautioned that the successful integration of AI into the workforce requires more than just a technical implementation. It necessitates a mindset shift. It is an emotional adjustment to the idea that AI can take over certain tasks and that humans can focus on the last 10% and assist the tools in their work. NSA’s Technical Director for Computer and Analytic Sciences Research Organization, Jason Wang noted that the addition of AI, makes it a collaborative tool that enhances human capabilities and frees up time for more creative and complex tasks. It doesn’t need to be viewed as a threat to job security.
How to Get AI into More Solutions
Dr. Biltgen noted that the key to making AI a success as we incorporate it into solutions is to provide turnkey solutions for users. They should not be burdened with the complexities of assembling separate parts but rather be presented with a fully integrated system that requires just a press of a button. The user experience should be seamless, enabling individuals to leverage AI without the need for extensive technical knowledge or expertise.
Dr. Biltgen highlighted how essential it is to establish policies and governance frameworks to provide guardrails and prevent the misuse of AI tools. These guardrails act as constraints, ensuring that AI is used appropriately and ethically. Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge that individuals may find ways to get around these guardrails. Change your ChatGPT commands, and you can get the tool to deliver what you ask.
Growing AI Talent
Talent is a key piece of the AI-puzzle. And Dr. Biltgen noted a key struggle in pushing the AI boundaries. Typically, government contracts require team members to hold or obtain a Top Secret security clearance and a college degree. He explained that relying solely on security clearances and college degrees in government contracting may impede progress and hinder the ability to quickly onboard talented individuals. Similar to the establishment of labs by agencies like the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), dedicated unclassified AI labs can serve as a platform to attract and rapidly integrate skilled professionals into major AI initiatives. CIA Director of Artificial Intelligence Innovation Lakshmi Raman shared that partnerships with companies like Microsoft, Google, Oracle, and others play a key role in growing AI capabilities. She shared that collaboration is key, noting that looking at problems from an unclassified perspective will be helpful in moving the AI dial in the IC.
The integration of AI into the workforce necessitates a mind shift. It will take a variety of approaches to make sure that the U.S. stays competitive in AI and ML.
