On May 23, 2025, the City Council of Indianapolis convened to discuss the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) on American national security during the Great Decisions 2025 program. The meeting featured a presentation by Dr. Daff, a technology expert with extensive experience in AI and national security, who emphasized the transformative potential of AI systems and their relevance to the security landscape.

Dr. Daff began by providing a historical overview of AI, explaining the evolution from early expert systems to today's advanced machine learning models. He highlighted the shift from rule-based systems, which required extensive coding, to generalized AI systems that learn from vast amounts of data without explicit programming. This transition has enabled AI to perform a wide range of tasks, significantly enhancing its utility in various sectors, including national security.

A key point of discussion was the vast amount of data used to train AI systems, which now includes billions of pages of text and even video content. Dr. Daff noted that companies like OpenAI have turned to unconventional sources, such as YouTube, to gather data for training, raising questions about data ethics and copyright issues. He underscored the importance of understanding the statistical nature of AI outputs, which can sometimes produce inaccurate or biased results due to the data they are trained on.

The implications for national security were a central theme of Dr. Daff's presentation. He warned that while AI can enhance decision-making and operational efficiency, it also poses risks, including the potential for biased algorithms and the challenge of accountability in AI-generated outputs. He stressed the need for ethical guidelines and robust oversight to mitigate these risks, particularly as AI becomes more integrated into national defense strategies.

In addition to national security, Dr. Daff discussed the broader societal impacts of AI, including its role in education and the workforce. He emphasized the necessity for educational institutions to equip students with the skills to use AI responsibly and effectively. The University of Indianapolis, where Dr. Daff teaches, has taken a proactive approach by requiring business students to engage with AI technologies in their coursework.

The meeting concluded with a recognition of the ongoing challenges and opportunities presented by AI. As the technology continues to evolve, the City Council and community stakeholders will need to remain vigilant in addressing the ethical, legal, and social implications of AI in order to harness its benefits while safeguarding public interests. The discussions from this meeting will likely inform future policies and initiatives aimed at integrating AI into various facets of city governance and public safety.