US Army Mulls Requirement for Artificial Intelligence Ingredient Lists

The U.S. Army could require vendors to provide component lists for artificial intelligence algorithms as a security measure. AI bills of materials would function similarly to those for software, providing the government with an understanding of where internal elements originate in the supply chain to minimize risks.

Young Bang, the Army’s principal deputy assistant secretary for acquisition, logistics and technology, said during a technical meeting on Thursday that AI BOMs are a digital version of keeping track of microchips and other components in physical supply chains. He noted that, unlike SBOMs, AI BOMs could open the possibility of someone gaining access to the intellectual property and reverse engineering it.

Bang, a past speaker at a Potomac Officers Club event, emphasized that the Army only aims to scan a given algorithm for potential vulnerabilities and ensure that its usage can deliver trusted outcomes. He added that AI BOMs could also be used to improve users’ understanding of how a model comes to a given result, potentially yielding better insights, DefenseScoop reported Thursday.