The Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC) (pronounced "jake") was an American organization on exploring the usage of artificial intelligence (AI) (particularly edge computing), network of networks and AI-enhanced communication for use in actual combat. In February 2022, JAIC was integrated into the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO).
A subdivision of the United States Armed Forces, it was created in June 2018. The organization's stated objective was to "transform the US Department of Defense by accelerating the delivery and adoption of AI to achieve mission impact at scale. The goal is to use AI to solve large and complex problem sets that span multiple combat systems; then, ensure the combat Systems and Components have real-time access to ever-improving libraries of data sets and tools".
History JAIC was originally proposed to Congress on June 27, 2018; that same month, it was established under the Defense Department's chief information officer (CIO), itself subordinate to the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), to coordinate Department-wide AI efforts. Throughout 2020, JAIC started financially engaging with the AI industry for the development of specific applications.
Current proposals for JAIC include giving it the authority as a financial entity to acquire its own technology, and elevating its position to be under the deputy secretary of defense.
On 24 June 2021 the Department of Defense gathered reporters for an AI symposium in which it announced the launch of an "AI and data accelerator (ADA) initiative" in which, over the month of July, data teams would work directly with military personnel to provide a proof of concept in data-driven warfare and to observe the possible obstacles for such implementation.
On 1 June 2022 JAIC, the Defense Digital Service, and the Office of Advancing Analytics were fully merged into a unified organization, the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer (CDAO).JASPREET GILL (24 May 2022) Say goodbye to JAIC and DDS, as offices cease to exist as independent bodies June 1 JAIC, DDS, and the other groups within CDAO will cease to be recognized as entities.Robert Johnson (3 Jun 2022) DOD’s New Chief Digital and AI Office Achieves Full Operating CapabilityBrandi Vincent (1 Jun 2022) Pentagon announces new leadership for chief digital, AI office
Successor The first Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO)ai.mil (June 2022) Announcing the 2022 DoD Digital and Artificial Intelligence Symposium or Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer was Dr. Craig H. Martell.Department of Defense (25 April 2022) DoD Announces Dr. Craig Martell as Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence OfficerColin Demarest (2 Jun 2022) Pentagon’s AI, data office fully operational as leadership posts filled DCDAO for Acquisition – Sharothi Pikar DCDAO for Policy, Strategy and Governance – Clark Cully DCDAO for Enterprise Platforms and Business Optimization – Greg Little DCDAO for Algorithmic Warfare – Joe Larson DCDAO for Digital Services – Katie (Olson) Savage Chief Operating Officer – Dan Folliard Chief Technology Officer – Bill Streilein Chief of AI Assurance – Jane PinelisCDAO (June 2022) Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) David Roza (14 Jun 2022) The Pentagon’s new data chief waited days just for an ID card CAC card USAF secretary Frank Kendall has signalled that the CDAO will have an approach to solving the DoD-wide Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) problem: "Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks has already asked Martell to take a leading role in the discussions about JADC2".Jaspreet Gill (2 Sep 2022) Kendall: CDAO will ‘hopefully’ be able to pull JADC2 efforts togetherColin Demarest (26 Oct 2022) Pentagon setting up office to speed JADC2 integration across military Martell's approach is bottom-up starting with each agency, working one-by-one, preserving what is important for each agency.Patrick Tucker (8 Dec 2022) The Defense Department’s New Data King Is Skeptical of AI 'Pixie Dust' "A more unified approach to data collection will enable bottom-up tools and capabilities"Colin Demarest (14 Dec 2022) Pentagon's AI ambitions require high-quality data, CDAO’s Martell says "More than 685 AI projects, including several tied to major weapons systems, were underway at the Defense Department as of early 2021" As of April 2023 connectivity between Nodes was the critical resource for JADC2.Colin Demarest (28 Apr 2023) Connectivity will 'make or break' US military use of AI, official says By February 2024 Dr Hicks announced that DoD had attained a minimum viable capability in JADC2.Colin Demarest (21 Feb 2024) Pentagon achieves ‘minimum viable’ version of CJADC2, Hicks says
Dr. Radha Iyengar Plumb assumed the CDAO role after the April 2024 departure of Dr. Martell.C. Todd Lopez, DOD News (14 Mar 2024) Austin Returns to Global Travel With Next Week's Ukraine Defense Contact GroupSydney J. Freedberg, Jr. (16 Jul 2024) GIDE goes wide: Defense AI chief seeks host of industry players for global battle networkCourtney Albon (16 Jul 2024) Pentagon to expand industry pool for CJADC2 experimentation
Reaction to large language models Dr. Martell has expressed apprehension over the large language models of AI such as ChatGPT.Patrick Tucker (3 May 2023) The Pentagon's AI Chief Is 'Scared to Death' of ChatGPT Jaspreet Gill (3 May 2023) Pentagon chief AI officer 'scared to death' of potential for AI in disinformation
US Air Force secretary Frank Kendall notes that AI tools to aid decision-making will likely find application.Theresa Hitchens (22 Jun 2023) Kendall: Air Force studying 'military applications' for ChatGPT-like artificial intelligence However the US will apply ethical constraints.
GIDEs
On 30 January 2023 the CDAO announced a series of global information dominance experiments (GIDEs).CDAO (30 January 2023) DoD Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office Hosts Global Information Dominance Experiments GIDE 5 is being held 30 January — 3 February 2023 (Monday—Thursday) at the Pentagon, and at multiple combatant commands (and therefore across the global information grid for JADC2). The experiment is twofold: 1) "to identify where we may have barriers in policy, security, connectivity, user-interface, or other areas that prohibit data sharing across the Joint force"; and 2) "to show how data, analytics, and AI can improve Joint workflows in a variety of missions from global integrated deterrence through targeting and fires".
GIDE 6 was held from June 5 to July 26, 2023, with allies and partners, to exercise Combined Joint All-domain command and control (CJADC2).Jamie Bennet (15 June 2023) CDAO Continues CJADC2 Research With 6th Iteration of Global Information Dominance Experiment; Craig Martell Quoted
In GIDE 7, and in GIDE 8 more elements of the kill chains were exercised. In GIDE 9, which is aligned with Project Convergence C4 (2024), Combined JADC2 is almost ready for deployment, pending Congressional approval of FY2024 funding.Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr. (21 Feb 2024) First version of all-service battle network is 'real and ready now': HicksJoseph Clark, DoD News ((21 Feb 2024) Hicks Announces Delivery of Initial CJADC2 Capability By July 2024 11 GIDE experiments had been held.
A GIDE will be held during March and April 2025, in conjunction with Project Convergence Capstone 5 (PC-C5).David Miller (12 Mar 2025) Project Convergence Capstone 5 returns to California; expands to Indo-Pacific AOR Information from: Transformation of the United States Army
Technology AI-powered surveillance The USAF has expressed interest in AI-based surveillance for operations based in CENTCOM.Colin Demarest (31 Jan 2023) AI-powered surveillance sought for US Central Command Interest in these operations has grown from $600 million to $2.5 billion, from 2016 to 2021.
Neuromorphic computing JAIC's primary area of interest is edge computing, as even more sensor technologies are being added to weapon systems and military vehicles. The edge processors that will be used are neuromorphic processors that will perform neural network computations on the sensor itself without having to send the data to a central processor, thus increasing the robustness of the combat network. JAIC plans to access the U.S. commercial sector and academia to recruit professionals in the fields of neuromorphic technology and AI safety.Ashutosh Gupta, Gartner (11 May 2021) Data Fabric Architecture is Key to Modernizing Data Management and Integration See § data fabric
Network of networks Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) is an initiative of the military's network of networks, as each branch of the US Armed Forces (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard) intends to have its own communications network. The JADC2 project would integrate all those networks into a larger network on all spatial scales. ′Connect every sensor, every shooter′, being the tagline.
JADC2 confers on the US the capability to "move data globally at scale".Theresa Hitchens (29 Mar 2023) Space Development Agency readies launch of first satellites for comms, missile tracking —Gen. Chance Saltzman, US Space Force
Joint Common Foundation "The DoD’s Cloud-Based AI Development and Experimentation Platform"CDAO Joint Common Foundation (JCF)
List of directors Director Term Service branch Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
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