Velocity by Booz Allen

“AI is becoming a part of everything, but it’s not the end of anything. Its true potential is unleashed when paired with other technologies to amplify capabilities, identify anomalies, and accelerate transformational outcomes.”

THE FINAL WORD

AI& EVERYTHING W e have entered a new technological era. Pushing the boundaries of what we once thought possible, generative AI and large language models are ushering in unprecedented change, excitement, and, indeed, trepidation. The fascination with this technology may be akin to the awe and wonder of the first person to peer through a microscope or hear a faraway voice over the telephone. AI is reshaping human life and work, from education to professional tasks to scientific breakthroughs. This era is marked by reimagined potential, with AI’s true value extending well beyond mere algorithms. A FUTURE OF LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES Horacio Rozanski , President and Chief Executive Officer, Booz Allen

AI& THE FUTURE Now is not the time to let fear outweigh opportunity. We are poised to write the next transformative chapter of our history. Embracing and investing in ethical AI use and human capital will be crucial as we envision and build a future where humans and machines join forces to create extraordinary outcomes. AI literacy, redefined roles, and strategic partnerships are essential components for maximizing AI adoption and its benefits. True transformation with AI is a collective endeavor, transcending individual companies and sectors. Partnerships across industries, governments, and societies are required to achieve AI’s full potential. The promise of AI is within reach, when the technology ceases to be a tool on its own, but the critical ingredient in solving the greatest challenges of our time.

the “what,” while guiding and training their AI partner to handle the “how.” Uniting these powerful forces will deliver solutions more quickly and surmount previously intractable problems. Historically, the fusion of technologies and human intellect has driven societal progress. At our current inflection point, AI& people’s impact on society promises to be revolutionary as it transforms economies, drives unprecedented growth, and strengthens national security. Despite all the good that can come from the power of AI&, it is not immune to a downside. AI& THREAT ACTORS The gap between the introduction of new technology and its malicious exploitation is narrowing. As we embrace AI’s capabilities, we must also be prepared for amplified technological risks, spanning from biases to security threats. The digital age brought heightened cybersecurity concerns, and AI presents new vulnerabilities. Adversarial AI introduces threats like data manipulation— by subtly altering input data, malicious actors can deceive AI systems, leading to erroneous outputs. Such data manipulation can lead to significant misclassifications and ultimately harm. Furthermore, AI-powered deepfakes— hyper-realistic but entirely fake content generated by algorithms—pose a significant risk to information integrity. In the hands of the “bad guys,” these can be used to spread misinformation, manipulate public opinion, or impersonate public officials. As we navigate these challenges, we must not lose sight of the horizon. The good and the bad of AI will continue to rapidly evolve, and so we must evolve with it. We need to simultaneously drive AI adoption, defend against its risks, and ensure its responsible use. Only then can we fully realize AI’s potential for groundbreaking advancements without halting our progress. As we look ahead, the future of AI& beckons.

and navigation of our space assets. Wireless and satellite communications networks can leverage AI to adapt to real-time conditions, optimizing resources to avoid interference or congestion and improve clarity, even in the most remote locations. Over time, these types of AI& applications deliver increased value as they learn and evolve. Yet AI’s potential doesn’t stop at augmenting our current technologies. When converged with quantum mechanics, AI stands to usher in quantum machine learning to enhance processing power and speed, as we learned about in “Can Quantum Supercharge AI?” on page 11. Ultimately, though, AI will need to be paired with people to achieve its greatest outputs. As you read in “A Workforce Disrupted” on page 30, AI is already redefining the workplace, automating routine tasks, and empowering people to engage in higher cognitive functions. The partnership between humans and machines does not merely improve efficiency; it elevates human potential. AI will liberate our brainpower to focus on more strategic and impactful endeavors, fostering an environment where innovation thrives and breakthroughs come to fruition. For example, in the age of AI, software developers can move beyond coding and debugging to imagine the vast possibilities that lie within the data. Their personal programming abilities will no longer constrict their vision of the attainable. They can explore and experiment with an AI coding partner like the one we described in “Code Writing Code” on page 74—with the human focusing on

In this year’s issue of Velocity , Booz Allen looked at how AI impacts nearly every facet of life—from the workforce and citizen services to climate and human performance. Through our work in all these areas, we see how AI, when used responsibly, is a remarkable accelerant across almost every variable and challenge. The dynamic utility of AI is rooted in the algorithm and its application, and AI’s promise will be fully realized when it ceases to be used on its own. That’s why, as we approach the next wave of technological evolution, the focus will shift to “AI&.” THE POWER OF AI& AI is becoming a part of everything, but it’s not the end of anything. Its true potential is unleashed when paired with other technologies to amplify capabilities, identify anomalies, and accelerate transformational outcomes. In every corner of our technological landscape, the emerging implications of AI are vast and groundbreaking. For instance, AI is primed to boost the resilience and adaptability of cyber, space, and communications capabilities. Zero-day exploits could be thwarted by coupling cyber and AI to create dynamic defenses against previously unknown threats. In the borderless and congested realm of space, AI offers enhanced awareness and collision avoidance capabilities for better protection