The Cognitive Exoskeleton: A Strategic Analysis of AI-Augmented Discourse and its Transformative Potential

AI introduces the concept of an AI coach initially designed to assist leaders in preparing for congressional testimony. This innovation seeks to rebalance power dynamics in public discourse by equipping testifiers with fact-checking, strategic coaching, and logistical assistance. The report extends this idea, exploring how such AI could transform governance, leading to algorithmic oversight and diplomacy, while also impacting human interaction with truth through concepts like a "Universal Fact Layer." However, it also critically examines potential risks, including the creation of a "competence mirage," the entrenchment of existing power, and the de-skilling of leaders, advocating for principled development to ensure the technology augments rather than replaces human capabilities.