This essay takes an engineering approach to ensuring that the deployment of artificial intelligence does not confound ethical principles, even in sensitive applications like national security. There are design techniques in all three parts of the AI architecture–algorithms, data sets, and applications–that can be used to incorporate important moral considerations. The newness and complexity of AI cannot therefore serve as an excuse for immoral outcomes of deployment by companies or governments.

In the 90s, Ukraine made the decision to dismantle the thousands of former Soviet nuclear weapons left on its territory. Nearly 3 decades later, Russia has invaded Ukraine using its own nuclear arsenal to bully other nations from interceding. In this special episode of AT THE BRINK, we explore whether Ukrainian denuclearization was a fateful mistake and if a nuclear Ukraine could have prevented the Russian invasion.

Analysts, scholars predict that fighting will grow more brutal, deadly before serious talks begin.

An elementary law of physics states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

I like to think that a similar phenomenon exists in the Belfer Center’s line of work. In fact, I believe the principle of it is encoded in our DNA: when challenges and crises arise, we respond—and often with greater force and determination.

Following the passing earlier today of former U.S. Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell, Belfer Center Director and former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter released a statement with his condolences and memories of Colin Powell, a “Marshall-esque giant of American national security.” 

In his first public comments since U.S. forces withdrew from Afghanistan, former Secretary of Defense and Belfer Center Director Ash Carter joined Harvard Kennedy School Dean Doug Elmendorf for a wide-ranging discussion about Afghanistan during a JFK Jr. Forum event Wednesday, October 6. Their discussion ranged from national security and U.S. foreign policy over 20 years to the immense contributions and sacrifices made in Afghanistan and how best we can promote human rights going forward.

A complete video along with clips from the event are available here.  The transcript is accessible here.

In a Washington Post op-ed on 9/8/2021, six former Secretaries of Defense, including Ash Carter - now Director of the Belfer Center - urge Congress and President Biden to support legislation that would authorize construction of a National Global War on Terrorism Memorial.

In a note to colleagues and friends, Belfer Center Director Ash Carter congratulated the Belfer Center's Nicholas Burns on his nomination by President Biden to serve as Ambassador to China. 

Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy are launching the Democracy and Internet Governance Initiative (DIGI), a joint initiative to convene a range of stakeholders across government, business, and civil society to address the growing public concerns about digital platforms.

A brief word of condolences on the passing of Don Rumsfeld.