The Department of Defense is betting big on generative artificial intelligence to tackle critical issues faced by fighters.
The applications range from administration to combat.
The United States Department of Defense has announced new measures to incorporate generative artificial intelligence into its internal operations, as part of its goal to establish itself as a global leader in this field. With a new fund of $100 million dedicated to a rapid capabilities cell in AI, the initiative is designed to accelerate the adoption of next-generation artificial intelligence within the department. This new cell will be led by the DoD's Principal Office of Digital and Artificial Intelligence and the Defense Innovation Unit.
The creation of this cell is the result of the efforts of Task Force Lima, a working group established in 2023 to assess and implement generative AI capabilities within the DoD. Doug Beck, director of the Defense Innovation Unit, emphasized that its mission is to utilize the best available commercial technology to address critical problems in military operations, highlighting the importance of acting swiftly and at scale.
AI applications in the DoD will encompass various areas, including decision-making support, operational planning, logistics, weapon development and testing, autonomous and unmanned systems, as well as intelligence activities and cyber operations, in addition to administrative functions.
Under the Biden administration, the U.S. has supported an International Political Declaration on the Responsible Military Use of AI and Autonomy, an effort aimed at establishing guidelines for the development of military artificial intelligence capabilities. However, there is already existing use of this technology in warfare applications. In a statement from November 2023, the DoD expressed its intention to research the responsible use of AI and autonomous systems in military environments.
AI observers have voiced concerns about the rapid implementation of this technology in conflicts and its potential global repercussions. A month prior, the White House introduced an executive order that established regulations related to risk and security in AI, also covering aspects of cybersecurity.
While the plans of elected President Donald Trump regarding these commitments in artificial intelligence remain unclear, he has appointed an "AI Czar" at the White House, and it has been rumored that Palantir's CTO, Shyam Shankir, could hold a prominent position at the Pentagon. Shankir has been an advocate for the swift adoption of commercial technologies by the DoD.
Dr. Radha Plumb, chief digital and AI officer at the DoD, emphasized the need to adopt generative AI models responsibly, while also implementing appropriate protective measures to mitigate potential risks to national security, considering how adversaries might employ this technology to destabilize the use of AI-based solutions.
