AI, workers, and national security in a changing world: A conversation with Sen. Mark Kelly

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly recognized as a general-purpose technology with the potential to alter how work is performed across the economy. Assessments of its effects on employment to date are neither uniform nor conclusive, while most suggest that the impact is likely to vary considerably by sector, occupation, and skill level. Productivity gains may be substantial over the long term, but the pace and distribution of disruption remain uncertain. Estimates of the workforce impacts span a wide range, and the possibility of concentrated losses in specific industries or demographics has drawn growing attention from researchers, employers, and policymakers. How these dynamics ultimately unfold will depend not only on the trajectory of the technology itself but on the policy choices made to manage its adoption.

The computational demands of the AI industry have placed significant pressure on existing physical infrastructure. Companies building new data centers have encountered constraints across several core inputs, including skilled workers, capital, and energy supply. In some cases, communities near data centers have reported rising energy costs, and a number of states have introduced or considered legislation restricting or pausing data center construction – a trend that is reflected in public opinion polling as well. How these infrastructure and resource challenges are managed will likely shape the pace and geography of domestic data center buildout.

As AI advances, its implications are expected to extend beyond domestic policy to national security. Several governments, including the United States, view AI as a potentially significant factor in military capability and strategic competition, and its development has become a feature of broader geopolitical tensions. The extent to which AI will reshape the balance of power among states remains a subject of ongoing debate among defense analysts and policymakers.

Last fall, Sen. Mark Kelly laid out an “AI for America” roadmap that advocates for policies to support workers and build out AI infrastructure. He has introduced two bills aimed at improving awareness and literacy of the benefits and risks of AI, and has served national security-focused roles both in uniform and as a member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services.

On Wednesday, March 11, join the Brookings Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technology Initiative for a discussion that explores Sen. Kelly’s views on addressing the potential economic and infrastructure impacts of AI, while simultaneously navigating the technology’s national security implications amid a shifting geopolitical landscape. This fireside chat will be followed by an expert panel discussion that dives deeper on questions of AI, national security, and responsible adoption in military and defense applications.

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