Department of War Discusses AI’s Role in Military Strategy
A senior official at the Department of War shed light on the increasing presence of artificial intelligence in military readiness strategy. He also mentioned that foreign adversaries are actively conducting psychological operations to encourage resistance against data centers and artificial intelligence within the U.S.
Emil Michael, the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, expressed concerns during an interview at the White House. He highlighted that efforts to reduce the development of infrastructure for artificial intelligence are being driven by adversaries of the United States.
“From a propaganda perspective, it’s natural for your adversaries who don’t want you to outperform them in AI to manipulate public opinion. And it seems to have had some effect,” he said, adding that this is why there is a strong response from the president emphasizing the benefits of AI advancements.
Race for AI Supremacy
Debate over data center production has intensified as the midterm elections approach, revealing bipartisan disagreements about whether progress should continue. Michael described data centers as the “electricity that fuels the superintelligence revolution” and stressed that maintaining their production is crucial for the U.S. to remain competitive in the AI arena.
Across the country, demonstrations against data centers and AI technologies have emerged, with some lawmakers questioning the influence of foreign interests in these protests.
Concerns Over Foreign Influence
Senator Ted Cruz from Texas drew parallels between current resistance and past foreign-funded movements, stating, “Just as Middle Eastern nations financed anti-fracking campaigns to hinder U.S. oil and gas development, adversaries might be pushing anti-data center sentiments to their benefit.” He argues that convincing Americans to forgo domestic data centers in favor of reliance on China is detrimental to national interests.
Michael echoed these sentiments, although he didn’t name China directly as the instigator. Concerns have been raised regarding the significant financial backing from U.S.-born communist tech mogul Neville Roy Singham to initiatives opposing data center projects. Groups benefiting from Singham’s funds include the Party for Socialism and Liberation and the ANSWER Coalition, both of which identify as pro-China.
Recent protests have seen activists from these organizations merge various themes, including anti-Trump sentiments with opposition to data centers and AI. With signs proclaiming “SHUT IT DOWN!” they gathered in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, during a recent event.
Singham, who sold his tech firm for $785 million and is now based in Shanghai, has been documented to funnel substantial funds into a network of nonprofits since 2017, estimated at $278 million.
Grassroots Movements Against Data Centers
The Party for Socialism and Liberation Boston—part of Singham’s network—publicly stated its opposition to data centers, asserting that control over AI and such facilities rests with wealthy individuals. Their message highlighted a growing movement among workers against tech billionaires, connecting various local protests against data centers to broader labor organizing trends.
As for the Department of War’s use of AI, Michael noted a remarkable increase in its application since Secretary Pete Hegseth took office. User engagement has expanded from about 70,000 to roughly 1.7 million within the department’s workforce, which consists of around 3.5 million personnel.
He elaborated that the Department is focusing on deploying AI in three critical areas: operations, warfighting, and intelligence. “We’ve seen remarkable examples of efficiency, with some processes being streamlined from what used to take 200 hours down to just two,” he mentioned, highlighting the improved resource management and decision-making capabilities facilitated by AI.
