Congress is requiring the Pentagon to formally prepare for artificial general intelligence by creating a high-level steering committee tasked with assessing the risks, governance challenges, operational impacts, and adversarial threats posed by AI systems that could rival or exceed human cognitive abilities. (Source: Image by RR)

Defense Leaders Ordered to Examine AI Systems that Could Match Human Cognition

A compromise version of the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) would require the Pentagon to formally examine the military implications of artificial general intelligence and other advanced AI systems. The legislation, as noted in defensecoop.com, mandates the creation of an “Artificial Intelligence Futures Steering Committee,” signaling growing congressional concern that emerging AI capabilities could fundamentally alter warfare, command structures, and national security. The panel would be established no later than April 1, 2026, if the bill becomes law.

The steering committee would be co-chaired by the deputy secretary of defense and the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with membership spanning senior military and civilian leadership across the Department of Defense. Participants would include service vice chiefs, National Guard leadership, key undersecretaries, and the Pentagon’s chief digital and AI officer. The group would be tasked with developing a proactive framework for evaluating, adopting, governing, and mitigating risks associated with AI systems that could approach or achieve AGI-level capabilities.

Under the bill, the committee would analyze a wide range of technologies that could enable AGI, including frontier and world models, agentic algorithms, neuromorphic computing, cognitive science-driven approaches, and next-generation microelectronics. The panel would also study how integrating such systems into military networks could affect operations, training, doctrine, and decision-making authority, with particular emphasis on ensuring that human commanders retain oversight and the ability to override AI systems when necessary.

Lawmakers also directed the Pentagon to assess how U.S. adversaries are pursuing advanced AI and potential AGI capabilities, and to develop counter-strategies in response. The deputy secretary of defense would be required to submit a report to congressional defense committees by January 31, 2027, outlining findings, resource requirements, and policy recommendations. The provision will take effect only if both chambers of Congress pass the NDAA and the president signs it into law.

read more at defensecoop.com