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Topic: Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Espionage Blog Brand: The Buzz Region: Americas, and Asia Tags: China, Disinformation, Iran, Iran War, Misinformation, North America, and United States AI Is Top National Security Concern of 2026, Intelligence Community Says March 29, 2026 By: Stavros Atlamazoglou
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A new report forecasting threats to US national security this year has highlighted the dangers of AI for spreading false information and strengthening adversaries’ military programs.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is in the news almost on a daily basis. This technology has great potential to revolutionize business and human interactions, and countries across the globe spend billions to get an edge over the competition.
But what about the national security value and threats coming out of AI? According to the leaders of the US Intelligence Community (IC), the use of AI by US adversaries presents a clear and credible threat to national security.
The Dangers of Artificial Intelligence
It is an undeniable fact that AI is one of the 21st century’s defining technologies, much like the car and airplane were defining technologies of the previous century. AI enables computers and other machines to simulate human learning, comprehension, problem-solving, creativity, and autonomy. Generative AI is increasingly capable of creating original content, including realistic images, video, and audio, as well as long-form text.
However, along with its benefits, AI poses a clear danger if wielded maliciously.
In a recent assessment of global threats and risks to US national security, the IC singled out AI as the potential source of trouble.
AI is by no means a new topic for the IC’s annual threat assessments. However, this year, the advancing technology is much more prominent in the threat estimate.
A very recent example of how AI can be used in a military context can be seen in the ongoing conflict with Iran. Since the war began on February 28, pro-Iran sources have shared countless fake videos showing Iranian missiles targeting and destroying US and Israeli combat aircraft and warships. These videos are overwhelmingly false, but it is difficult to determine their veracity at a glance. Advances in AI enable malicious actors to make videos that are credible enough for unsuspecting people to believe they are real, creating confusion and psychological distress—and increasing the political pressure to end combat operations.
But the most acute threat of malicious use of AI is coming from China.
How China Is Using AI
When it comes to AI capabilities, China is by far “the most capable competitor” in the space, according to the IC report.
“The leading position of the US in AI innovation, including advanced chip design, is driving other global powers to build competitive AI ecosystems of their own,” the report stated in its introduction.
China is the most advanced country in AI besides the United States, and plans to overtake it by 2030. Beijing uses AI for a wide range of tasks, including conventional military operations, special operations, and intelligence gathering and analysis targeted against the US and Europe.
“China is driving AI adoption at scale—both domestically and internationally—by using its sizeable talent pool, extensive datasets, government funding, and burgeoning global partnerships,” the IC report added.
China’s prominence in AI aligns with the overall threat posed by Beijing. After decades of isolation, China is asserting its power in the Indo-Pacific and across the world with the clear goal of replacing the US as the world’s sole superpower. To achieve this goal, the Chinese Communist Party is pursuing a whole-of-nation approach that uses political, diplomatic, economic, intelligence, and military means.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
The post AI Is Top National Security Concern of 2026, Intelligence Community Says appeared first on The National Interest.
Источник: nationalinterest.org