Artificial Intelligence in National Security Intelligence

Abstract

This thesis examines how artificial intelligence (AI) is being integrated into national intelligence work, focusing on operational practices, institutional dynamics, and ethical implications. It addresses three main research questions: How AI is being implemented in institutions such as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), how Ukrainian intelligence agencies apply AI in the context of full-scale war, and how private AI actors like Palantir influence public intelligence infrastructure. The thesis uses qualitative document analysis based on policy papers, public interviews, and academic sources to explore these themes. The findings show that AI integration depends not only on technical capacity, but also on how institutions interpret and manage its application. The CIA illustrates a model of selective adoption, where human judgment remains central, and AI tools are introduced under strict legal and procedural controls. In Ukraine, AI technologies are applied across a broad range of intelligence and operational tasks, including geospatial analysis, open-source intelligence (OSINT), targeting, and information operations, demonstrating a more experimental and necessity-driven use. The Palantir case highlights how corporate platforms play a growing role in national security, raising questions about public oversight, data governance, and institutional dependency. The thesis suggests that AI in intelligence can be understood as part of a socio-technical system, where institutional norms, human roles, and technical design are interdependent. While AI offers new capacities, its influence depends on how it is embedded in organizational settings and subject to political and legal constraints. The study contributes conceptually and empirically to understanding how intelligence agencies and private firms navigate the changing landscape of digital security governance.