I resigned from Congress just over two years ago. At the time, conflict with China was still a theoretical exercise that some called alarmism.

Today, only 25 months later, that same hypothetical conflict is considered a near-term strategic risk by nearly everyone on Capitol Hill.

I was fortunate to spend most of my time in Congress on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, as well as the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. Those positions allowed me some unique insight into the capabilities and resources of both our military and those of our adversaries.

We spent a notable amount of time on those committees talking about the potential impact of artificial intelligence on defense and national security — again, these efforts were largely considered “theoretical” and “alarmist.” Today, AI has already been woven into the fabric of our everyday life.

AI isn’t a hypothetical, futuristic add-on for our military — it’s a decisive factor in whether we win or lose the next fight, and that’s particularly true in the Indo-Pacific. The question is no longer if we integrate AI into military operations, but how fast and smart we do it.

Military readiness has always been about having the right people and platforms in the right place at the right time — that was certainly the case during my time in the Air Force. But today’s battle environment, particularly across the Pacific, demands more. Decision loops have collapsed from days to minutes; the volume of data, from satellite imagery to open-source intelligence, has exploded to a level that’s overwhelming to operators, and our adversaries are more agile than ever.

In this environment, human decision-makers alone can’t keep up. AI can change that.

To be clear: I’m not suggesting that Congress simply throw more taxpayer dollars at the latest buzzword-laden AI software. We don’t have time to chase new ideas that might be a game-changer five years from now. This is about solving hard, real-world problems for our warfighters right now.

How can we move logistics faster across the Pacific? How can we predict equipment failures before they happen? How can we identify threats in real time from mountains of sensor data? AI can deliver answers, but only if it’s applied to mission outcomes with our warfighters in mind, not just more innovation theater.

If applied correctly, which is to say practically, AI can turn our soldiers into super-soldiers by allowing proactive readiness. Rather than reacting to threats or failures, commanders and operators can see around corners, identifying breakdowns before they happen, adjusting routes before disruptions hit and reallocating resources to meet mission needs. We don’t need another flashy idea. We need operational agility.

Unfortunately, China has largely achieved that speed and interoperability. That means, if we want to keep our edge in the Pacific, we need to break our bureaucratic habits. There’s no time for years-long acquisition timelines or top-down, predictable directives. Commanders and program managers need the freedom to test, iterate and then field AI solutions in real-world settings.

Yes, that involves more risk than our Department of Defense typically tolerates. But the bigger risk is continuing down the same, predictable path while our greatest adversary surges ahead. China is investing heavily in military AI across domains, from autonomous drone swarms to AI-enabled command systems. The Pentagon needs to counter these efforts by placing more trust in some of our greatest assets: America’s innovators and warfighters.

We’re in a pivotal moment. The U.S. can still lead in AI and maintain our edge in the Pacific, but China isn’t going to wait around for us. A conflict in the South China Sea is no longer an “alarmist,” “hypothetical” war game — it’s waiting right around the corner unless we act.

So, a recommended first step to my former colleagues in the House? Let’s empower America’s innovators and warfighters by supporting and fielding AI that strengthens deterrence, enhances readiness and saves lives.

Rep. Stewart was a member of the House Intelligence, Appropriations and Homeland Security committees, as well as the House China Task Force. He’s also a world record-setting Air Force pilot and the author of multiple New York Times best-selling novels.