The United States Department of Defense launched a set of enhanced artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives today, aiming to incorporate generative AI into its combat and management systems.
The department’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) will open a US$100 million (A$157 million) AI Rapid Capabilities Cell, which will apply generative AI to Department of Defense projects.
"The U.S. and the U.S. private sector, in particular, is at the cutting edge when it comes to artificial intelligence," said Chief Digital and AI Officer Radha Plumb.
"We need an all-hands-on-deck approach to accelerate development and deployment of these tools for the Department of Defense to responsibly harness the tremendous promise of AI in everything from financial management to logistics to operations planning to autonomous systems,” she said.
The Rapid Capabilities Cell will launch four initial AI pilot programs to add generative AI to Pentagon efforts, in partnership with the department’s Defense Innovation Unit.
This will involve accelerating generative AI tools for use in 15 areas, including logistics, command and control, weapons development, and cybersecurity. These areas were recommended by Task Force Lima, the Pentagon’s project to evaluate potential generative AI uses.
It will allow combatants to test AI models and provide real-time feedback.
The cell will also oversee investments in AI infrastructure to enable AI testing on government networks.
CDAO will provide US$40 million in funding to non-traditional and small businesses developing generative AI.