If the Best AI Wins, America Must Build It
By Heidi Wood
Vice President, Chief Digital and Transformation Officer, L3Harris
As artificial intelligence continues to advance at a remarkable pace, deeply embedding itself within our economy and daily routines, a critical dialogue is unfolding among regulators and industry leaders regarding the appropriate boundaries for its use. This discussion is especially pertinent in relation to foreign AI models that may threaten national security and economic stability for the United States. While these concerns merit attention, it is time to shift the focus of the conversation. Instead of contemplating what should be restricted, we ought to direct our efforts towards ensuring that America maintains a competitive edge in all aspects of AI, particularly regarding ‘open-weight’ models that enhance accessibility and customization.
From my vantage point within the defense technology sector, it is not an option to relinquish control of open-weight AI models to foreign entities. The recent conflict in Ukraine has illustrated a pressing need for such technologies on modern battlefields. These systems, which allow trained parameters to be downloaded and adapted for use on user-controlled infrastructure, are critical in addressing contemporary military challenges. A report by Reuters last year highlighted that Ukraine intentionally steers clear of proprietary systems, enabling them to seamlessly integrate AI into their battlefield management processes for troop coordination and enemy surveillance.
Source: L3Harris (2026-09-09)
