DOD Introduces New Platform to Accelerate AI Deployment

The Department of Defense has launched Alpha-1, a new platform with a set of capabilities and tools designed to help the armed services accelerate artificial intelligence deployment.

Data labeling is the first project for the platform. Navy Capt. Xavier Lugo, lead of the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office’s Task Force Lima, said the solution will help address the capability gap experienced across the department.

Alpha-1 will support the Pentagon’s long list of autonomy programs, including the Replicator initiative, to make modeling and simulation capabilities available to different military branches, Federal News Network reported.

Lugo said that Alpha-1 is the first step in enabling AI and machine learning scaffolding in the armed forces and DOD components. He added that the Pentagon aims to build and integrate models into the weapons systems.

Various services have been engaged in several automation initiatives. At the U.S. Navy, Vice Adm. Craig Clapperton, head of U.S. Fleet Cyber Command and the 10th Fleet, said automation and data analytics will help reduce cyberattacks targeting its unclassified networks.