Era-Defining Tech: Risk It Or Fade

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America’s top intelligence official said artificial intelligence is a “risk we have to take on” because it is a race the United States must win.

Story Highlights

The Director of National Intelligence linked artificial intelligence to core national security threats and global power competition.
He said artificial intelligence is a “risk we have to take on” and a race the United States “needs to win”.
A 2024 National Security Memorandum calls artificial intelligence “era-defining” and warns misuse could harm U.S. security and democracy.
Policy guidance orders testing of models for cyber dangers and mapping of artificial intelligence supply-chain risks.

DNI Ties Artificial Intelligence to U.S. Security and Global Power

Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton told Fox News host Bret Baier that artificial intelligence is both a major risk and a contest the United States must win. He spoke on Special Report while discussing the 2026 Annual Threat Assessment and how artificial intelligence shapes national security. The interview framed leadership in emerging technology as a marker of global power. Clayton’s message underscored urgency, competition, and managed risk rather than retreat from the technology.

Clayton’s clear line — “it’s a risk we have to take on” — matched his point that delay cedes ground to rivals. He stressed that advances bring danger, but also tools America needs to defend itself. The framing showed a two-part approach: push hard to lead and build strong guardrails. The comments came without declassified technical details, but they aligned with the public stance the intelligence community has taken on artificial intelligence in recent guidance.

Official Policy Frames Artificial Intelligence as Dual-Use and Urgent

The 2024 National Security Memorandum says artificial intelligence is “era-defining” and vital to national security. It directs the United States to lead the world in responsible use across defense, intelligence, and law enforcement. The document also warns that misuse could threaten U.S. security, fuel authoritarian regimes, and undermine democratic processes. That mix of urgency and restraint mirrors the message heard in Clayton’s interview about risk and leadership moving together.

The same memorandum adds teeth through concrete tasks. It orders rapid, systematic, classified testing of artificial intelligence models for offensive cyber risk. It also instructs the intelligence community to map critical points in the artificial intelligence supply chain and assess where disruption or compromise could occur. Those steps show how Washington plans to manage danger while keeping pace with adversaries investing in the same tools.

Why This Matters to American Power, Liberty, and the Economy

China, Russia, and rogue actors are racing to weaponize artificial intelligence in cyber attacks, information warfare, and battlefield tools. Winning this race means safer networks, stronger deterrence, and more reliable warning systems. Losing ground risks deeper hacks, faster propaganda, and threats to energy grids and finance. Clayton’s call lines up with a basic truth: if the United States does not lead, others will, and they may not share America’s respect for free speech, elections, or the rule of law.

For families, the stakes are concrete. Cheaper, faster cyber tools can target hospitals, schools, and small businesses. Secure and trusted American systems can protect paychecks, savings, and health records. For conservatives, the path is clear: grow U.S. strength while guarding liberty. That means pressing agencies to follow the law, limit mission creep, and keep strong oversight, even as they test, deploy, and harden artificial intelligence that shields the homeland.

How the Trump Administration Is Positioning the National Security Enterprise

The Trump Administration has moved to speed responsible artificial intelligence adoption across defense and intelligence while defending systems from foreign theft and manipulation. The policy thrust is simple: get the best tools into the hands of American defenders and make them resilient. This approach complements the intelligence community’s warnings by pairing speed with checks, and by focusing on real-world testing, supply-chain security, and mission outcomes that protect citizens and the Constitution.