United States ~ National Security ~ Pentagon ~ A.I. READINESS ~ DIA ~ DOD
The panel of scientists, business leaders and national security officials — chaired by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt — called on the national security community to ensure it is “AI-ready” by 2025.
The document takes a broad look at DIA’s needs, but sheds a particular light on the urgency to grow the agency’s AI talent base, Menon said during a media briefing at the Department of Defense Intelligence Information System Conference in San Antonio, Texas.
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SAN ANTONIO — The Defense Intelligence Agency is on track to release an artificial intelligence strategy in the coming weeks that will focus on attracting and developing a strong workforce.
Ramesh Menon, DIA’s chief technology officer, told reporters Dec. 14 the strategy is awaiting approval from the agency’s director and should be released “very shortly.”
The document takes a broad look at DIA’s needs, but sheds a particular light on the urgency to grow the agency’s AI talent base, Menon said during a media briefing at the Department of Defense Intelligence Information System Conference in San Antonio, Texas.
Although we looked at it from different pillars, the most important one is talent and skills,” he said. “How do we attract the best and brightest [and] retain them in the intelligence community to enhance our mission capabilities?”
The strategy, which Menon and his team developed over the last year, comes in the wake of a 2021 report from the congressionally mandated National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, which argued the U.S. Department of Defense and the intelligence community are not prepared to protect against AI threats or harness the technology to improve national security.
The panel of scientists, business leaders and national security officials — chaired by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt — called on the national security community to ensure it is “AI-ready” by 2025.
“AI integration is hard in any sector — and the national security arena poses some unique challenges,” the report said. “Nevertheless, committed leaders can drive change. We need those leaders in the Pentagon and across the federal government to build the technical infrastructure and connect ideas and experimentation to new concepts and operations.”
Menon said that at a “very high level,” DIA’s forthcoming AI document is its plan for implementing the commission’s recommendation.
On the workforce front, the agency is looking to increase its investment in junior talent in hopes that it will draw more new recruits, according to DIA Deputy Chief Information Officer E.P. Mathew. Although that approach could mean the agency loses some trained personnel to higher paying jobs, the hope is that it would load the front end of DIA’s training program.
We would love to be that pipeline or that training hub where people do come and recruit from us,” he said during the briefing.
DIA also wants to increase its collaboration with other DoD and intelligence agencies that can share lab space and expertise, Mathew said.
Along with its emphasis on workforce development, Menon said the strategy highlights the need to strengthen DIA’s data platforms and ensure its AI algorithms and processes are compliant with national policies. It also calls for deeper partnerships with international allies.
“We are working in collaboration with our partners, and we are expanding the value of data that we currently have to ensure we get that global overwatch advantage in terms of our mission,” he said.
The agency had declined to disclose the winning contractor. The value of the deal is classified.
Dec 15 at 07:20 AM
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The Defense Intelligence Agency’s artificial intelligence strategy is awaiting approval and should be released “very shortly.”
The Pentagon Is Experimenting With Using Artificial Intelligence To “See Days In Advance”
The Pentagon aims to use cutting-edge cloud networks and artificial intelligence systems to anticipate adversaries’ moves before they make them.
U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) recently conducted a series of tests known as the Global Information Dominance Experiments, or GIDE, which combined global sensor networks, artificial intelligence (AI) systems, and cloud computing resources in an attempt to “achieve information dominance” and “decision-making superiority.” According to NORTHCOM leadership, the AI and machine learning tools tested in the experiments could someday offer the Pentagon a robust “ability to see days in advance,” meaning it could predict the future with some reliability based on evaluating patterns, anomalies, and trends in massive data sets. While the concept sounds like something out of Minority Report, the commander of NORTHCOM says this capability is already enabled by tools readily available to the Pentagon.
General Glen VanHerck, Commander of NORTHCOM and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), told reportersat the Pentagon this week that this was the third test of GIDE, conducted in conjunction with all 11 combatant commands“collaborating in the same information space using the same exact capabilities.” The experiment largely centered around contested logistics and information advantage, two cornerstones of the new warfighting paradigm recently proposed by the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A full transcript of VanHerck’s press briefing is available online.
Ramesh Menon, DIA’s chief technology officer, told reporters Dec. 14 the strategy is awaiting approval from the agency’s director and should be released “very shortly.”
“Although we looked at it from different pillars, the most important one is talent and skills,” he said. “How do we attract the best and brightest [and] retain them in the intelligence community to enhance our mission capabilities?”
The strategy, which Menon and his team developed over the last year, comes in the wake of a 2021 report from the congressionally mandated National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, which argued the U.S. Department of Defense and the intelligence community are not prepared to protect against AI threats or harness the technology to improve national security
“AI integration is hard in any sector — and the national security arena poses some unique challenges,” the report said. “Nevertheless, committed leaders can drive change. We need those leaders in the Pentagon and across the federal government to build the technical infrastructure and connect ideas and experimentation to new concepts and operations.”
Menon said that at a “very high level,” DIA’s forthcoming AI document is its plan for implementing the commission’s recommendation.
On the workforce front, the agency is looking to increase its investment in junior talent in hopes that it will draw more new recruits, according to DIA Deputy Chief Information Officer E.P. Mathew. Although that approach could mean the agency loses some trained personnel to higher paying jobs, the hope is that it would load the front end of DIA’s training program.
“We would love to be that pipeline or that training hub where people do come and recruit from us,” he said during the briefing.
DIA also wants to increase its collaboration with other DoD and intelligence agencies that can share lab space and expertise, Mathew said.
Along with its emphasis on workforce development, Menon said the strategy highlights the need to strengthen DIA’s data platforms and ensure its AI algorithms and processes are compliant with national policies. It also calls for deeper partnerships with international allies.
“We are working in collaboration with our partners, and we are expanding the value of data that we currently have to ensure we get that global overwatch advantage in terms of our mission,” he said.
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