AI and the Future of National Security: Results From a Landmark Survey of 111 National Security Policy Professionals

Start: September 2, 2026 | 1:30 pm ET / 10:30 am PT
End: September 2, 2026 | 2:30 pm ET / 11:30 am PT

IST, in partnership with the Future of Life Institute, conducted the first unclassified survey of national security practitioners to cut through the hype and identify the risks and opportunities that experts see in advanced AI deployment. On Wednesday, September 2, report authors and contributing experts joined a launch event to celebrate the report’s release, share key findings, and explore what’s next for AI in national security.

As AI’s role in U.S. national security operations increases, what are the risks? What are the opportunities? What red lines need to be drawn? 

The Institute for Security and Technology (IST), with support from the Future of Life Institute (FLI), conducted a first-of-its-kind survey to capture what national security professionals consider to be the implications of artificial intelligence. More than 100 survey respondents, ranging from former Under Secretaries in the U.S. government to retired flag officers in the military, answered questions to gauge how current and former decision-makers and policymakers are thinking about the impact of powerful new AI models on the military, cybersecurity, and weapons of mass destruction.

In a launch event accompanying the release of the report, AI and the Future of National Security, report authors and contributing experts sat down on Wednesday, September 2, to share key findings and explore what’s next for AI in national security. 

Panelists

Philip Reiner

Chief Executive Officer

Nicholas Leiserson

Nicholas Leiserson

President, Center for Advancing Cybersecurity

Mariami Tkeshelashvili

Director for Artificial Intelligence Security Policy

Ritika Verma

Senior Analyst for Artificial Intelligence Security Policy

Hamza Chaudhry

AI and National Security Lead, Future of Life Institute (FLI)

Melissa Hopkins

Multi-Agent Risks Adjunct

Bridget Williams

Associate Director of Research & Strategy, Forecasting Research Institute (FRI)

Jim Mitre

Senior Vice President and Chief Research Officer, RAND

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