Dr. William Streilein, the chief technology officer for DOD’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer, has emphasized trust and responsibility as the core principles of the Department of Defense’s (DOD) approach to artificial intelligence (AI). Streilein’s office has launched a department-wide effort called Task Force Lima to explore ways to accelerate the adoption of generative AI in support of the warfighter. Nearly 200 use cases for leveraging this groundbreaking technology across various functions have been identified.
During a discussion hosted by Government Executive, Streilein highlighted the importance of understanding the state of technology and being responsible in leveraging it within the DOD. Establishing trust in the application of AI is critical, particularly in ensuring that the AI algorithms produce the intended results. Streilein emphasized the need for comprehensive testing and clear specifications of desired outcomes to move forward with justified confidence.
Alongside trust, the DOD prioritizes ethical principles such as responsibility, reliability, equitability, governability, and traceability. Streilein explained that these principles also apply to humans in their use of AI. Being responsible, practicing governance, and understanding how AI arrived at its conclusions are crucial aspects of the DOD’s approach.
The DOD recently released the 2023 Data, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence Adoption Strategy to accelerate the implementation of advanced AI capabilities. This strategy builds upon and supersedes previous AI and data strategies, emphasizing an agile approach, speed, and scale in AI development. The DOD aims to achieve specific decision advantages through AI adoption, including facilitating data-driven decision-making and enhancing operational efficiency.
The DOD has been at the forefront of responsible AI development and adoption. In January, the Defense Department updated its 2012 directive on autonomous weapon systems to align with advances in AI. The U.S. has also introduced a political declaration that focuses on the responsible military use of AI, aiming to establish norms for its ethical application.
Streilein emphasized that trust and ethical use underpin the DOD’s experimentation with AI. The department is committed to upholding the five ethical principles while exploring how AI can contribute in various contexts.
By prioritizing trust, responsibility, and ethical AI practices, the DOD remains dedicated to leveraging AI capabilities to maintain decision superiority and support U.S. warfighters on the battlefield.
In summary, the DOD’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer’s office, led by Dr. William Streilein, has launched Task Force Lima, a department-wide effort to explore the adoption of generative AI. Streilein emphasizes trust and responsibility, ensuring each AI application produces the intended results. The DOD’s strategy involves an agile approach, focusing on speed, scale, and decision advantage outcomes. Ethical principles, including responsibility and governance, underpin the DOD’s use of AI. The goal is to maintain decision superiority and support warfighters, all while adopting AI responsibly.
