February 27, 2019

The White House and Defense Department unveiled AI strategies. Now what?

By Megan Lamberth

The White House and Department of Defense made major strides this month in artificial intelligence policy by unveiling two key strategy documents.

On Feb. 11, President Trump signed an executive order enacting the “American AI Initiative,” identifying AI as a priority for government research and development. The Initiative signals a shift within the executive branch, and lawmakers should seize this opening and allocate enough resources to support an enduring national AI strategy. The next day, the DoD released its own AI strategy, positioning its newly created Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC) at the forefront of its efforts. The DoD has long grappled with the transformative impact of AI and this plan attempts to formalize the Pentagon’s deployment of AI-enabled technologies. While these documents hold promise, the details of their execution and funding are noticeably absent. Without persistent vocal and financial support from the White House, Congress, and the DoD, these strategies will struggle to evolve from vision to reality.

The White House’s initiative wants to establish a whole-of-government strategy that uses the revolutionary power of AI to “sustain and enhance” U.S. economic and national security. It also carves out a road map for directing agencies to prioritize "sustained investment in AI R&D.”

Read the full article on C4ISRNET.

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