About This AI Online Course
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the nature of global power, competition and conflict.
No longer confined to technical domains, AI is reshaping how nations project influence, conduct military operations and compete in the cyber and information environments.
This online course provides a comprehensive examination of how AI is redefining strategic advantage in the 21st century, with particular attention to its role in defense, national security and geopolitical competition.
You will learn how major powers, including the U.S. and China, are leveraging AI to enhance military capabilities, accelerate decision making and gain advantages across domains, such as cyber operations, autonomous systems, intelligence analysis and information warfare. The course also expands beyond traditional great power competition to examine the growing role of actors, such as Russia, North Korea and non-state entities—highlighting how AI is lowering barriers to entry and enabling smaller or less resourced actors to exert disproportionate influence on the global stage.
Through real-world examples and case studies, including valuable lessons from the war in Ukraine, you will review how AI-enabled technologies, such as drones, machine learning systems, and large language models, are transforming battlefield dynamics and strategic planning. This online course also addresses emerging concepts, such as “precise mass,” human-machine teaming and the increasing speed and scale of AI-driven operations—all of which are reshaping traditional understandings of military power and effectiveness.
In addition to operational applications, you will examine the broader strategic and policy implications of AI adoption. You will assess the differences between democratic and authoritarian models of AI development, including the role of the private sector, state control and civil-military collaboration. The course also explores critical challenges, such as ethical considerations, risks of unintended escalation, attribution in cyber conflict and the importance of maintaining human oversight in increasingly autonomous systems.
After completing the course, you will be equipped with better understanding about the evolving role of AI in global competition. You will be better prepared to assess how AI is shaping the future of warfare—influencing strategic decision making and redefining what it means to achieve and sustain power in an increasingly complex and contested international environment.
What You Will Learn
- Analyze how AI shapes geopolitical competition among major and emerging actors—including the U.S., China, Russia, North Korea, and other nations—across military, cyber, and information domains
- Evaluate the impact of AI-enabled technologies on military effectiveness, escalation dynamics, and global power distribution
- Assess the ethical, strategic, and operational challenges associated with integrating AI into defense contexts, including human oversight, unintended consequences, and civil-military collaboration
This course is aligned with defense strategies.
Who Should Take This Online Course
This online training course is designed for defense or intelligence professionals working for the Federal government or government contractor companies who wishes to learn about the intersection of AI, strategy and power in a defense context.
More seasoned professionals will also benefit from this online training experience to obtain a refresher on the critical subject matter.
Prerequisites
None. However, prior completion of the FedLearn course, Introduction to AI/Machine Learning Concepts & Terminology (AIDATA109), is highly recommended.
Course Certificate
To achieve a course certificate of completion, you must score 80 percent or higher on a graded quiz.
Course Format
Self-paced, online training course
Course Pricing
Individual courses are $9.99 (per person).
Seat licenses to access the entire FedLearn AI and data science catalog are also available. Click here to learn more and purchase
If you are interested in learning about special team rates for Federal government and government contractor organizations, email [email protected]
Continuing Education Unit Credits
This course provides 1 CEU.
