WASHINGTON (Realist English). Cybersecurity leaders in the US defense establishment are warning that artificial intelligence has become both a weapon and a shield in the digital battlespace, demanding urgent adaptation by the Pentagon and its allies.
Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth, head of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), told the Billington Cybersecurity Summit on Wednesday that adversaries are increasingly deploying AI to launch sophisticated attacks — and that defenders must respond in kind.
“The concept of using AI to combat AI attack is very real to us,” Whitworth said. “Commanders need to enable their CISOs with the tools to properly handle AI-generated threats.”
AI is already reshaping the cyber domain by allowing hackers to generate convincing phishing campaigns, manipulate data at scale, and automate ransomware operations. Whitworth’s remarks came a day after Sean Cairncross, the new White House national cyber director, called for a “whole-of-nation” strategy to blunt foreign-based threats through public–private partnerships and coordination with allies.
The NGA has expanded its use of AI for reconnaissance and threat prediction. Its Maven platform has seen adoption double since January and quadruple since March 2024. Whitworth noted that automation is not only driving cyber defense but also speeding up traditional tasks such as mapmaking:
“We produced 7,500 maps of Latin America and parts of Central America in just 7.5 weeks — work that would have taken 7.5 years.”
General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, underlined that advanced tech is essential to detect risks and prevent unintended escalation in conflict zones.
“The fight is now centered around our ability to harvest and process data into a single pane of glass for commanders,” Caine said. “AI is a big part of ensuring smart tactical, operational and strategic decisions.”
The Pentagon is backing the rhetoric with investment. It has recently awarded $200 million in AI contracts and expanded a decade-long partnership with Palantir valued at up to $10 billion. At the same time, it is reorganizing its chief data and AI office, cutting staff, and scaling back its in-house Advana platform to accelerate what leaders call a shift to an “AI-first enterprise.”