AI in National Security: The Growing Geopolitical Divide

The role of artificial intelligence (AI) in national security has become a focal point in the escalating technological cold war between global superpowers. Recent developments highlight a deepening divide, with the U.S. and China taking starkly different approaches to AI integration in defense and governance.

U.S. Doubles Down on AI Dominance
The Trump administration's push to energize AI expansion has evolved into a bipartisan priority, with increased funding for AI research in defense applications. The Pentagon's Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC) has accelerated projects ranging from predictive maintenance to autonomous systems, aiming to maintain a strategic edge. However, this rapid adoption raises cybersecurity concerns, particularly around the vulnerability of AI systems to adversarial attacks and data poisoning.

China's AI Models Face Western Scrutiny
A new bill circulating in Western governments proposes banning Chinese-developed AI models, including DeepSeek, from official use. The legislation cites risks of data exfiltration, algorithmic bias favoring Chinese interests, and potential backdoors in proprietary models. This follows similar restrictions on Huawei and TikTok, reflecting a broader trend of technological decoupling. Cybersecurity analysts note that such bans could inadvertently fragment global AI standards, creating incompatible ecosystems vulnerable to exploitation.

The Cybersecurity Fallout
The AI arms race presents unique security challenges:

1. Data Sovereignty: Cross-border AI training data complicates compliance with conflicting national regulations (e.g., GDPR vs. China's Data Security Law).
2. Supply Chain Risks: Reliance on AI chips from geopolitical rivals creates single points of failure.
3. Adversarial AI: Nation-states are developing AI-powered cyberweapons capable of evading traditional defenses.

Economic forums like Australia's Reform Round Table now urge policymakers to address AI's security implications alongside traditional topics like tax reform. As AI becomes embedded in critical infrastructure, the cybersecurity community must grapple with securing systems designed to learn and evolve—often in unpredictable ways.

The path forward remains uncertain, but experts agree on one imperative: establishing international norms for military AI use before the technology outpaces diplomacy.