FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Generative artificial intelligence like the wildly popular ChatGPT has a promising future at the U.S. Department of Defense, where time-consuming tasks and red tape can clog the path to accomplishment, according to Lauren Knausenberger, the Air Force’s chief information officer.
A smart assistant or AI-powered chatbot could efficiently find files, answer frequently asked questions or dig up contact information, among other menial assignments, Knausenberger said Feb. 28 at an event in Virginia hosted by Billington Cybersecurity. Automating such processes could save precious time and resources.
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is investing heavily in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies to enhance its IT systems and capabilities. The DoD's strategy for using AI in its IT systems includes several key initiatives and references.
One of the key initiatives is the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC), which was established in 2018 to accelerate the adoption of AI across the DoD. The JAIC is responsible for developing and implementing AI technologies that enhance the DoD's capabilities in areas such as cybersecurity, logistics, and decision-making.
Another key initiative is the DoD's AI and Data Ethics Initiative, which was launched in 2021 to ensure that the development and deployment of AI technologies are aligned with ethical principles and values. The initiative includes the development of guidelines and best practices for the ethical use of AI in the DoD.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT — capable of carrying a convincing conversation and churning out content, like computer code or children’s stories — surpassed 1 million registered users within a week of its November launch.
It quickly caught the attention of the Pentagon too. Generative AI, which fuels ChatGPT, was added to a Defense Information Systems Agency tech watch list, which previously featured 5G, zero-trust cybersecurity, edge computing and more.
It is evident that in 2023 there will be extensive assessment on DoD's strategy for using AI in its IT systems, including several key initiatives and projects within JAIC, the AI and Data Ethics Initiative, and collaborations with industry partners and academic institutions. By leveraging AI technologies, the DoD aims to enhance its capabilities in areas such as decision-making, logistics, and cybersecurity, and maintain its technological edge in an increasingly complex and dynamic global security environment.
