The majority of artificial intelligence technologies designed to support U.S. military operations are in the development phase of Department of Defense acquisition programs, according to a Government Accountability Office report.
GAO caught up with officials at more than 20 organizations under DOD as part of the government audit agency’s review of efforts to develop, procure and implement AI-based weapons systems.
The Pentagon considers AI capability a top priority area for modernization programs in a push to maintain the country’s military edge at the technological and operational levels and increase warfighters’ ability to defend against near-peer threats.
According to GAO, the department is facing acquisition and workforce challenges such as a lack of data needed to train AI models for integration into weapons systems.
“DOD initiated a variety of efforts—such as establishing a cross-service digital platform for AI and AI-specific trainings—to address these challenges and support its pursuit of AI, but it is too soon to assess effectiveness,” the report states.