Definition
Critical infrastructure encompasses systems whose failure would cause significant harm — aviation, energy, water, telecommunications, and financial networks. AI deployment in these domains requires rigorous validation, human oversight, and fallback mechanisms.
AI Deployment Patterns (2026)
- FAA SMART: smart-air-traffic-management assists controllers with predictive planning; human retains operational authority (air-space-intelligence)
- Design principle: AI as decision-support assistant, not autonomous controller
- Enterprise timeline: 12+ year modernization cycles for safety-critical government systems