Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the landscape of U.S. intelligence services, according to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Speaking at a technology conference, Gabbard emphasized that AI tools, when applied responsibly, can lead to significant cost savings and allow intelligence officers to focus more on high-value tasks like gathering and analyzing intelligence rather than administrative work.

Gabbard acknowledged that during her time in Congress, she was often frustrated by the slow pace of intelligence operations. Now, as the nation's top intelligence official, she sees AI as a key to overcoming such inefficiencies. She pointed out that AI has the capacity to handle tasks such as running human resource programs and scanning sensitive documents for potential declassification. These capabilities are especially valuable in speeding up procedures that have traditionally taken months or even years.

One of the most striking examples Gabbard provided was the declassification of tens of thousands of pages of documents related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and his brother, Senator Robert F. Kennedy. These documents were released under the directive of former President Donald Trump. While experts anticipated that the declassification process would be lengthy, AI significantly accelerated the review. The technology was able to scan and identify which pages could be safely declassified and which needed to remain classified, drastically reducing the reliance on human review for every single document.

During her keynote at the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Summit in Washington, D.C., Gabbard emphasized how the use of AI tools allowed this process to be completed in a fraction of the time it would have taken through traditional manual methods. She stressed the importance of leveraging private sector innovations to improve government operations and allow intelligence collectors and analysts to devote their efforts to tasks that truly require human expertise.

Since taking over as Director of National Intelligence earlier this year, Gabbard has initiated a wave of reforms aimed at modernizing the U.S. intelligence community. She now oversees the coordination of 18 intelligence agencies and is committed to reshaping the way these agencies operate. Among her major moves has been the creation of a new task force to consider operational changes and enhanced transparency through increased declassification.

Gabbard has also taken controversial steps, including firing two veteran intelligence officers who were perceived to be opposed to former President Trump. She has eliminated diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, and relocated the team responsible for preparing the President’s Daily Brief, granting herself greater control over one of the most critical communications in national security.

These changes reflect her broader vision of a more agile, focused, and efficient intelligence apparatus. Gabbard’s approach, while drawing both praise and criticism, underscores a growing trend toward integrating cutting-edge technologies like AI into national security frameworks. Her tenure marks a significant shift in how the U.S. intelligence community adapts to technological advancements and evolving political landscapes.