Defense Secretary James Mattis wants the Defense Department to further invest in artificial intelligence and harness the technology for military applications, Wired reported Friday.
“It’s got to be better integrated by [DoD], because I see many of the greatest advances out here on the West Coast in private industry.”
“We’ll get better at integrating advances in AI that are being taken here in the Valley into the U.S. military.”
Mattis, an inductee into Executive Mosaic‘s Wash100 for 2017, made the remarks during a visit to Defense Innovation Unit Experimental headquarters in Mountain View, California, as part of the Silicon Valley leg of his West Coast tour.
The report said the White House’s proposed funding increase for DIUx might help the organization accelerate AI-related projects.
A study conducted by Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence suggests AI can help advance military innovation and drive a transformation equal to the impact of nuclear weapons on national security.