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October 1, 2026
2:00 pm
EVENT: Winning the Adoption War: Diffusing AI Across the U.S. Military
The United States leads the world in frontier artificial intelligence. However, cutting edge technology used by a limited number of people is a trophy, not a capability – and the contest with China will not be decided only at the frontier.
If the most sophisticated technology on earth reaches only a fraction of the force, how much advantage does it confer? How is the Pentagon moving from procuring AI to diffusing it across the force? What cultural and organizational changes does an “AI-first” military require? And how does the United States build and keep the technical talent inside government, turning tools into outcomes before its competitors close the gap?
To discuss these questions and others, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) hosts a conversation with FDD Visiting Military Fellow Major Megan “Napalm” Hainline, F-16 instructor pilot and AI leader; FDD Adjunct Fellow Isaac “Ike” Harris, executive director of the Frontier Security Institute; and Leah Siskind, FDD AI Research Fellow. The discussion will be moderated by RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, Senior Director of FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation.
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Overnight Brief: October 27, 2026
Read Full BriefToday In Issues:
FDD Research & Analysis
- "How Israel and Ukraine Are Guiding the Next Generation of Air Defense," The National Interest
- "Iraq's Currency Crisis Exposes the Economic Cost of Iran's Endless Wars," Middle East 24
- "Russian Operatives Plant Deepfake Targeting U.S. Midterm Elections," FDD Policy Brief
- "A Ban on Georgia’s Opposition Would Complete Georgian Dream’s Capture of the State," FDD Policy Brief
- "Iraqi parliament approves most remaining cabinet appointments, including Iran-backed militia figures," FDD's Long War Journal
- "Pakistani outreach presents a dilemma for Afghanistan’s anti-Taliban resistance," FDD's Long War Journal
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