The U.S. military’s AI experiments are moving at a rapid pace, and they’re proving to be particularly ambitious. U.S. Northern Command recently completed a series of tests called the Global Information Dominance Experiments (GIDE), a combination of artificial intelligence, cloud computing and sensors that could give the Pentagon the ability to predict events “days in advance,” Gen. Glen VanHerck. This could lead to a major shift in military and government operations.
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The machine learning-based system notices changes in raw data in real time that suggest a potential problem. If satellite imagery shows the Pentagon signs that an adversary nation’s submarine is preparing to leave port, for example, AI could flag that movement, knowing that the vessel is likely leaving soon. It can take military analysts hours or even days to discover that information. GIDE’s technology could send an alert within “seconds,” VanHerck said.
The most recent dry run, GIDE 3, was the most expansive yet. All 11 U.S. administrations and the broader Department of Defense used a mix of military and civilian sensors to address scenarios where “challenged logistics” (such as communications in the Panama Canal) could pose a problem. The technology involved wasn’t entirely new, the general said, but the military managed to “put everything together.”.
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The platform could be used in the real world relatively soon. VanHerck believed the military was “ready to deploy” the software and could validate it at the next global exercise in the spring of 2022.
The benefits of this predictive AI are pretty clear. Instead of simply reacting to events or relying on outdated information, the Pentagon could take proactive measures, such as deploying forces or bolstering defenses. It could also provide an “opportunity” for the government, VanHerck added. He didn’t give examples, but it could help policymakers catch acts of aggression while they’re still in their early stages.
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However, there are still some limitations. AI technology looks for outlandish clues, such as a larger number of parked cars or aircraft. It can't say for sure what's going on, as the human factor still plays a big role. Even so, the technology could be worth it if it prevents a "surprise" attack or leads to negotiations instead of a conflict.
