How the Pentagon domesticated the chatbot: 2024 in review

How the Pentagon domesticated the chatbot: 2024 in review
How the Pentagon domesticated the chatbot: 2024 in review

This December, after 16 months of studies and experiments, the Department of Defense decided it had figured out enough guardrails for generative AI to start embracing the new technology wholesale.

Killer Apps: 5 stories highlight quiet progress on military AI and CJADC2

Killer Apps: 5 stories highlight quiet progress on military AI and CJADC2
Killer Apps: 5 stories highlight quiet progress on military AI and CJADC2

While combat has seen a drone revolution, the US has made subtle but real advances in applying AI to military planning, intelligence, and “all domain” command and control.

Decentralizing battle data: CDAO, Anduril open tactical ‘mesh’ to third-party developers

Decentralizing battle data: CDAO, Anduril open tactical ‘mesh’ to third-party developers
Decentralizing battle data: CDAO, Anduril open tactical ‘mesh’ to third-party developers

DoD’s Chief Digital & AI Office bought Anduril’s Lattice Mesh to let frontline units share data without having to relay it through a central HQ. Now CDAO and Anduril are letting third parties build apps to run on Lattice Mesh, without having to go through Anduril.

Pentagon launches new generative AI ‘cell’ with $100M for pilots, experiments

Pentagon launches new generative AI ‘cell’ with $100M for pilots, experiments
Pentagon launches new generative AI ‘cell’ with $100M for pilots, experiments

Taking over for Task Force Lima, the new AI Rapid Capabilities Cell (AIRCC, or “arc”) will test cutting-edge Large Language Models and other GenAI tools for everything from war planning to cybersecurity.

Pentagon developing ‘Responsible AI’ guides for defense, intelligence, interagency — even allies

Pentagon developing ‘Responsible AI’ guides for defense, intelligence, interagency — even allies
Pentagon developing ‘Responsible AI’ guides for defense, intelligence, interagency — even allies

The Responsible Artificial Intelligence Toolkit — essentially an interactive online checklist on how to safely, ethically, and legally develop AI — will also be updated to incorporate last week’s National Security Memorandum from President Biden.

Department of the Air Force appoints Susan Davenport as new chief data and AI officer

Department of the Air Force appoints Susan Davenport as new chief data and AI officer
Department of the Air Force appoints Susan Davenport as new chief data and AI officer

Davenport will serve as the fourth CDAO of the Department of the Air Force.

Pentagon CDAO seeks industry input on protecting IP: ‘We’re really open to feedback’

Pentagon CDAO seeks industry input on protecting IP: ‘We’re really open to feedback’
Pentagon CDAO seeks industry input on protecting IP: ‘We’re really open to feedback’

As her signature “Open DAGIR” initiative seeks to bring in smaller, innovative software firms, “we’ve got to be a lot more explicit” in contracting language to protect their intellectual property and data rights, said Chief Digital & AI Officer Radha Plumb.

CDAO opens big door for small biz with $15 billion, 10-year Advana recompete

CDAO opens big door for small biz with $15 billion, 10-year Advana recompete
CDAO opens big door for small biz with $15 billion, 10-year Advana recompete

“You don’t have to do everything,” said Bonnie Evangelista, deputy chief digital & AI officer for acquisition. “If you do a single piece and you do it really well, you can have a contract.”

‘Ultimate example of JADC2’: Can the Pentagon keep a carrier connected on long-range voyage?

‘Ultimate example of JADC2’: Can the Pentagon keep a carrier connected on long-range voyage?
‘Ultimate example of JADC2’: Can the Pentagon keep a carrier connected on long-range voyage?

The UK, Australia, and more are working with the Pentagon’s Global Information Dominance Experiments to keep a carrier strike group connected to the allies as it sails through multiple US combatant commands in late 2025.

CYBERCOM’s new AI task force working under ‘elite’ defensive operations unit

CYBERCOM’s new AI task force working under ‘elite’ defensive operations unit
CYBERCOM’s new AI task force working under ‘elite’ defensive operations unit

The Cyber National Mission Force’s commander “has that team of expertise as a tool that when she’s got a hard problem, she can use that task force as one of the solutions.”

‘Who should shoot who?’: INDOPACOM getting ‘combat representative’ JFN this year

‘Who should shoot who?’: INDOPACOM getting ‘combat representative’ JFN this year
‘Who should shoot who?’: INDOPACOM getting ‘combat representative’ JFN this year

The Joint Fires Network, meant to match weapons to targets across a theater of war, is a crucial pillar of the Pentagon’s nascent global command system, CJADC2.

GIDE goes wide: Defense AI chief seeks host of industry players for global battle network

GIDE goes wide: Defense AI chief seeks host of industry players for global battle network
GIDE goes wide: Defense AI chief seeks host of industry players for global battle network

“We’re trying to be easier to work with,” the Pentagon’s Chief Digital & AI Officer Radha Plumb said as CDAO recruits hundreds of companies to help expand CJADC2 beyond the current “minimum viable capability.”

CDAO opens Advana analytics to multiple vendors in a push to scale up

CDAO opens Advana analytics to multiple vendors in a push to scale up
CDAO opens Advana analytics to multiple vendors in a push to scale up

With Advana, “we’re kind of victims of our own success,” a senior defense official told Breaking Defense in an exclusive interview, meaning changes have to be made to “get to sufficient scale.”

New Pentagon AI & data chief plans big initiatives for fall, from back office to battlefield (EXCLUSIVE)

New Pentagon AI & data chief plans big initiatives for fall, from back office to battlefield (EXCLUSIVE)
New Pentagon AI & data chief plans big initiatives for fall, from back office to battlefield (EXCLUSIVE)

The recent announcements on Palantir’s Maven Smart System and other strategic tools are just the start, CDAO Radha Plumb told Breaking Defense, with announcements on tactical and business systems coming by fall.