Artificial intelligence has become a recurring theme in national security discussions this year, and the latest comments from the United States' top intelligence official add to that pattern.
Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton discussed the 2026 Annual Threat Assessment in a television interview, describing how leadership in emerging technologies, and artificial intelligence in particular, is increasingly seen as central to global power. The Annual Threat Assessment is a public report, produced each year by U.S. intelligence agencies, that lays out the intelligence community's view of the major risks facing the country, traditionally covering areas such as terrorism, cyber threats and the capabilities of other major powers.
The inclusion of artificial intelligence as a headline national security concern reflects a shift that has been building for several years, as governments around the world have increasingly folded questions about AI development, chip supply chains and data infrastructure into their broader security planning, alongside more traditional military and intelligence considerations.
Officials in Washington and in other capitals have said that keeping pace with AI development, while also managing the risks the technology can pose, from disinformation to cybersecurity, has become a standing item on the agenda for national security planning, not a one-off issue.
Further detail from the Annual Threat Assessment is expected to shape budget and policy discussions in Washington in the coming months, particularly around technology competition with other major economies.
What is the Annual Threat Assessment?
It is a public report produced each year by U.S. intelligence agencies outlining the major risks and challenges facing the country, covering areas from terrorism to the capabilities of other major powers.