SLU Hosts Symposium on Artificial Intelligence, National Security

The symposium brought together students with government and industry leaders to look at artificial intelligence and national security

Launch SlideshowRobert Rahmer, director of the Office of Analysis Research, Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) addresses the AI and National Security Conference at SLU. Photo by Steve Dolan.

Saint Louis University held a conference focused on educating the next generation on AI practice in national security. The event featured top industry experts, government leaders, and researchers.

This was the second conference hosted by SLU’s Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence. The inaugural conference in 2023 focused on social media and national security. The event offered those in attendance opportunity to explore how various disciplines can be applied to artificial intelligence and national security.

The event featured a keynote presentation from Robert Rahmer, director of the Office of Analysis Research, Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA), who told the crowd that spies need nerds and there were a variety of opportunities for anyone interested in intelligence work. 

Panels featured discussions on AI, Modern Analytical Tradecraft and AI and Higher Education.

The Midwest Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence (MW-IC CAE) at Saint Louis University sponsored the conference. MW-IC CAE was formed in 2022 with a grant from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. It is dedicated to preparing students for professional positions in the 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. The Center supports the design and development of intelligence-related STEM curricula and programmatic training opportunities to prepare students for careers in the field of intelligence.

The event was sponsored by SLU, the Intelligence Community Centers for Academic Excellence and Taylor Geospatial Institute.