AI Policy Research - AI and National Security Course Guide

Summary

Georgetown University's SEST5734 course guide serves as a curated gateway into the complex intersection of artificial intelligence and national security policy. This academic resource stands out by bridging theoretical AI governance frameworks with practical national security applications, drawing heavily from the Brookings Institution's AIET Initiative research on governing transformative technologies. Rather than offering a single perspective, the guide synthesizes insights from multiple research programs to present a comprehensive view of how AI governance approaches are evolving in the national security context.

What you'll learn

The course guide introduces students to the multifaceted challenges of governing AI in national security settings. You'll explore how traditional security paradigms are being challenged by AI's dual-use nature, where the same technologies can enhance both defensive capabilities and offensive threats. The resource emphasizes understanding governance approaches that can handle AI's rapid development cycle while maintaining democratic oversight and international cooperation frameworks.

Key learning areas include:

• Transformative technology governance models that go beyond traditional regulatory approaches
• Multi-stakeholder coordination strategies for managing AI development across government, academia, and private sector
• Risk assessment frameworks specifically designed for emerging AI capabilities in security contexts
• International cooperation mechanisms for AI governance in an increasingly multipolar world

The academic advantage

This Georgetown resource differs from typical policy briefs or think tank reports by providing structured academic scaffolding around AI governance research. The course guide format means you get not just the conclusions, but the analytical frameworks used to reach them. The connection to Brookings' AIET Initiative adds particular value, as this initiative specifically focuses on technologies with transformative potential rather than incremental improvements.

The academic setting also enables deeper exploration of contested concepts like "AI safety" and "beneficial AI" within national security contexts, where the stakes and trade-offs differ significantly from commercial AI development.

Research methodology insights

The guide's approach to policy research emphasizes cross-program synthesis, drawing from multiple research streams rather than promoting a single institutional viewpoint. This methodology reflects the reality that AI governance challenges don't fit neatly into traditional academic or policy silos. The resource helps you understand how different research programs - from computer science to international relations to public policy - contribute to comprehensive AI governance frameworks.

Who this resource is for

• Graduate students and researchers studying technology policy, international relations, or national security will find this guide essential for understanding current academic thinking on AI governance. The resource is particularly valuable for those working on dissertations or research projects at the intersection of technology and security policy.
• Policy professionals in government agencies, think tanks, or international organizations can use this guide to understand the theoretical foundations underlying current AI governance debates and proposals.
• Academic instructors designing courses on AI policy, emerging technology governance, or national security studies will find the curated research collection and analytical frameworks useful for curriculum development.
• Defense and security analysts seeking to understand civilian academic perspectives on AI governance challenges will benefit from the guide's comprehensive overview of current research directions.