What Winning the AI Race Really Means

About the Episode

Artificial intelligence is reshaping cybersecurity, military strategy, and the competition between the United States and China. Former Deputy National Security Advisor Anne Neuberger joins Leslie Vinjamuri to discuss what it will take for the US to lead in AI and why staying ahead means more than building the most advanced models.

Key Takeaways

• Technology has moved from the margins of national security to its center. Once an afterthought, Neuberger said, it has become “the battleground and battlefield” of economic and geopolitical competition.
• AI is shifting warfare away from expensive platforms like aircraft carriers and fighter jets. This “move from a platform-centric approach” allows countries like Ukraine to challenge larger militaries using drones, commercial technology, and AI.
• The government cannot do this alone. Because private companies build and operate the most advanced AI systems, Neuberger says government and industry need to work together to manage both the opportunities and the risks.
• Neuberger argues that winning the AI race isn't just about building the best model. It's about whether the world chooses to use your technology and knowing where to share AI's benefits and where to stay ahead of competitors.
• Looking ahead, Neuberger's three priorities are building more resilient digital infrastructure (including "digital replicas" of energy and water systems to continuously test defenses), ensuring workers see a path forward in an AI-driven economy, and evolving military doctrine now on autonomy and human control in war before a disaster forces it.