Army Futures Commander Calls for Balance Between Humans, AI in Military Formations

Gen. James Rainey, the head of the U.S. Army Futures Command, is warning against fully replacing soldiers and conventional weapons with machines.

Speaking to TechNet Augusta conference attendees, he recommended that the Army build formations balancing human personnel and artificial intelligence to ensure that commanders do not fully rely on the technology to make decisions.

Rainey told reporters after his speech that properly integrating humans and machines increases lethality and survivability while easing logistical burdens.

Programmed or remote-controlled robots can reduce the risk of human casualties and take on menial, time-consuming tasks for Army personnel. To aid decision-making, the service is also exploring the use of AI to detect disinformation on social media and facilitate an information advantage.

As of 2021, the Army is responsible for over 200 of the Department of Defense’s 685 ongoing AI programs, C4ISRNET reported Friday.

Rainey has in the past expressed interest in establishing a cross-functional team focused on human-machine integration. The Army operates CFTs dedicated to advancing training and simulation systems, aviation, networking and other areas.