Defense Department Launches Effort to Improve Internal AI Literacy

The Department of Defense Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office has launched an enterprise-wide AI education program.

Digital On-Demand provides service members and civilian employees with flexible access to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Horizon’s learning resources, the DOD said.

The department aims for the initiative to serve as a reference for terms and concepts on AI and emerging technologies such as 5G, data analytics, edge computing and internet of things.

According to a press release, providing basic AI knowledge could facilitate better communication throughout the DOD.

Craig Martell, chief digital and artificial intelligence officer and a 2023 Wash100 winner, said Digital On-Demand is intended to form a foundational understanding of emerging technologies and demonstrate the workforce’s role as such capabilities are adopted.

CDAO is delivering Digital On-Demand through the Digital University, a joint venture of the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Space Force.

The rollout was preceded by a pilot program in August for around 1,200 DOD participants and a soft launch in the summer of 2023 to U.S. Special Operations Command and U.S. Central Command personnel.