AI Agents: The New Frontier in National Security

In the race for AI supremacy, autonomous agents—not armies—may determine the victors. These intelligent systems, capable of reasoning and acting independently, are already shaping military strategies, cybersecurity defenses, and geopolitical power struggles. From protecting critical infrastructure to optimizing military logistics, AI Agents are transforming global security in ways governments are only beginning to comprehend. As rival nations invest billions in the latest AI models and deploy AI agents for surveillance and cyber threat capabilities, the US faces critical choices in its approach to AI governance.

With autonomous agents playing an increasingly central role in global security, the US must navigate a pivotal moment in the debate over AI governance and its implications for future conflicts and geopolitical dynamics.

What Are AI Agents?

AI agents are software or hardware systems that perceive their environment, process information, and take independent actions to achieve complex goals.¹ Unlike traditional AI models that merely analyze data and generate outputs, AI agents are designed to autonomously execute higher-order tasks.

For individual consumers, these technologies are already being incorporated into personal assistants, customer support, and smart home applications. However, as AI agents grow more sophisticated, governments are exploring applications in cyber defense, military logistics planning, and data monitoring and surveillance.

Across these wide-ranging applications, AI agents rely on five core capabilities:

1. Perception: Gathering data through sensors, cameras, or digital interfaces.

2. Reasoning: Using machine learning to interpret inputs and predict outcomes.

3. Decision-making: Selecting actions from pre-programmed options or generating new solutions.

4. Execution: Deploying multistep responses.

5. Learning: Refining strategies over time through reinforcement learning.

A 2024 article from Harvard’s Belfer Center characterizes agentic AI as a transformational force in geopolitics and warfare. Acknowledging the risks of rapid experimentation and adoption, the authors’ conclude, it is “a greater risk to national security to not be the first Great Power to harness this great power.”²

AI agents go beyond traditional AI models by autonomously perceiving, reasoning, and acting. Unlike passive systems that require human input, they independently execute real-world tasks in cybersecurity, logistics, and surveillance with real-time decision-making.

National Security Applications

AI agents already play a crucial role in safeguarding critical infrastructure, detecting anomalies in power grids and financial systems faster than human operators.³⁴ The NSA uses them to sift through global communications data, flagging potential threats while balancing privacy concerns.⁵

Taking a proactive approach, the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations has leveraged AI and machine learning to enhance old images and generate new leads in cybercrime investigations. During Operation Renewed Hope in 2023, this strategy identified 311 previously unknown victims of online child sexual exploitation in under a month,⁶ underscoring AI’s potential to combat cybercrimes.

Intelligence Augmentation & Logistical Optimization

AI agents enhance intelligence gathering by processing satellite imagery, intercepting communications, and monitoring social media for emerging threats. Within the Department of Defense, AI-driven logistics improve operational efficiency by managing equipment maintenance, optimizing troop deployments, and streamlining supply routes.

For example, when the US Air Force adopted a C3 AI air logistics application, it reduced “time-to-insight by 92%, from three days to two hours.”⁷ These applications demonstrate AI’s ability to accelerate decision-making and improve military readiness.

From real-time cyber threat detection to intelligence analysis, AI-driven systems are transforming defense operations and safeguarding critical infrastructure.

Risks and Vulnerabilities

AI agents are vulnerable to adversarial manipulation and evolving cyber threats. In 2024, researchers demonstrated how prompt injection could be used by malicious actors, including terrorist groups and violent extremists.⁸ Adversaries increasingly exploit data poisoning, subtly altering training data to corrupt decision-making processes.

US Cyber Command officials have warned that China is “actively targeting” the US defense industrial base, with efforts to infiltrate supply chains and disrupt critical operations.⁹ As AI agent-driven attacks become more sophisticated, DARPA cautions that their speed and scale may soon exceed the capacity for timely intervention.¹⁰

Cyber Threats

Cybercriminals are weaponizing AI agents, automating and scaling phishing campaigns and deepfake-powered scams with unprecedented speed and precision.¹¹ There is a growing risk of AI agents being hijacked—either by state actors or independent cybercriminals—potentially leading to large-scale data breaches, AI-powered denial-of-service attacks, or even autonomous misinformation campaigns designed to destabilize economies and influence elections.¹²

From supply chain disruptions to automated misinformation campaigns, AI agents face escalating risks of exploitation, cyberattacks, and adversarial manipulation.

The Path Forward

History shows that the first to master a disruptive technology has a significant opportunity to shape the future. AI agents are no different. Whether the US leads in agentic AI development or hesitates amid regulatory uncertainty will determine not just its security, but its strategic position in the global order. One thing is certain: the nations that harness AI agents effectively won’t just win battles—they’ll shape the future of global security.

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References

1. Nitin & Avdhoot (2025, January 17). What are AI agents?: How they work, types, and use cases. eLuminous Technologies. Link.

2. Farnell, R., & Coffey, K. (2024, October 11). AI’s new frontier in war planning: How AI agents can revolutionize military decision-making. Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Link.

3. Gill, J. K. (2025, January 21). How AI agents improve predictive maintenance for infrastructure. Akira AI. Link.

4. Gill, N. S. (2024, December 20). AI and the future of risk management in financial institutions. XenonStack. Link.

5. Rather, S. & Toomey, P. (2024, April 25). How is one of America’s biggest spy agencies using AI? We’re suing to find out. American Civil Liberties Union. Link.

6. US Department of Homeland Security. (2024, February 24). Artificial Intelligence at DHS. Link.

7. C3 AI. (2023, August 21). US Air Force adopts C3 AI to conserve fuel use, increase flight efficiency. Link.

8. Weinmann, G. et al. (2024, January). Generating terror: The risks of generative AI exploitation. CTCSentinel, 17(1), Combatting Terrorism Center. Link.

9. Welch, C. (2024, June 27). China ‘actively’ targeting US industrial base, warns CYBERCOM chief. Breaking Defense. Link.

10. Novinson, M. (2024, August 21). Autonomous AI and US national security: A double-edged sword. Bank Info Security. Link.

11. Leme, R. (2025, January 21). Adopting agentic AI in cybersecurity: What CISOs expect in 2025. Right-Hand Cybersecurity. Link.

12. Salazar, M. (2025, February 18). Trend Micro predicts increase in AI-driven cyber threats in 2025. Backend News. Link.