U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks speaks at the Advantage 2024 Defense Data and Artificial Intelligence Symposium in Washington, D.C., Feb. 21, 2024. 】
According to the US media on February 22, 2024, the three-day "Superior Department of Defense 2024: Defense Data and Artificial Intelligence Symposium" hosted by the Pentagon's Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office ended in Washington, with Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks delivering a keynote speech. The author has sorted out the content of the speech and shared it as follows:
Publish an update on AI research
In his speech, Hicks officially announced that the Department of Defense has delivered the initial version of the Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) capability. The initial release represents a minimum viable capability that combines software applications, data integration, and cross-domain combat concepts designed to provide warfighters with a decision-making advantage. "CJADC2's minimum viable capabilities are real and are now ready," she said, and it is the Department of Defense's approach to developing material and non-material solutions that provide commanders with information and decision-making advantages. The goal is to apply the CJADC2 approach in all areas of warfare, giving warfighters an advantage in deterrence and, if necessary, defeating an adversary anywhere in the globe.
Of course, CJADC2 is not a platform or a single system, it is a convergence of concepts, technologies, policies, tools, and talent that drives the way we command and control forces with key allies and partners.
In September 2023, the U.S. Department of Defense dedicated its Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) to "accelerate the Department of Defense's mission to adopt AI from the boardroom to the battlefield through the CDAO, and we are providing decision-making advantages to Defense Department leaders and service members in a way they have never experienced." ”
Over the past year, CDAO and its partners have set an exciting pace for this work with a series of global information advantage experiments: every 90 days, we iterate on capability development and delivery. We will continue this momentum in 2024.
Hicks noted that the CDAO played a key role in completing the initial iteration and was required to deliver minimum viable capacity in just a few months. She said she couldn't reveal whether or why the initial features announced were developed specifically for security reasons. "But I can tell you that it was not an easy task, especially in 6 months," she said, "but through a lot of hard work by many teams, operators from multiple commands were paired with engineers from the Department of Defense and industry who delivered the product on time and on target." ”
A pilot from the 492nd Attack Squadron instructs students from the University of California, San Diego, in an MQ-9 simulator at March Air Force Base in California, Feb. 17, 2023. 】
China is in a persistent competition for intergenerational asymmetry
Hicks says there is no "why" debate, "for no reason, because these technologies give us a better decision-making advantage than we do now." This is imperative given the rapid challenge we face from the People's Republic of China in containing and defending against aggression. ”
When it comes to deterrence and defense against aggression, AI systems can dramatically improve the speed, quality, and accuracy of commanders' decision-making – which is decisive for deterring combat and winning battles.
China is the only country in the world that has both the will and the growing ability to reshape the international order in ways that seriously undermine vital U.S. interests", the Department of Defense has developed strategies, doctrines, policies, and resources to counter China, including "arming" the military with artificial intelligence.
We should look at China and really understand what they're doing, what they're doing – the largest military buildup since World War II, both conventional and strategic, and we've always sought to drive innovation across the Department of Defense, especially in this era of enduring strategic competition with the People's Republic of China," "While the Department of Defense has always been in dire need of innovation, there's no doubt that this imperative has become more urgent in recent years." ”
Instead of one analyst reading hundreds or thousands of reports a day, AI needs to collate all the data to find adversary threats. "Let the AI identify key information, and maybe do some fundamental analysis, so that analysts can focus on the puzzle set so they don't waste time, resources, and manpower. "Our adversaries are trying to cross our borders and our security every day, so we must move at the speed of light," and "it will be critical to use artificial intelligence to try to go beyond that."
Never be complacent, though, Hicks said, adding that this is a protracted battle, where technology is constantly changing, today's good habits and best practices will become obsolete one day, and our global competitors will continue to improve their capabilities. Therefore, we must also keep learning, growing, evolving, and pushing ourselves.
These competitors should know: we will be involved for the long haul. After all, China's rhythm challenge is a generational challenge.
As a nation and as an army, we are deeply committed to staying ahead of our competitors today, tomorrow, and for the foreseeable future, no matter how long it takes.
Data and artificial intelligence are necessary to empower our warfighters, and we must take advantage of that. We have to move fast because our competitors are also moving fast, so we need speed and safety, and we have to be responsible and fast.
We need AI to manage DoD global assets
In terms of managing (the Department of Defense), the world's largest "business," we have nearly 3 million people on payroll, a health care system serving more than 9 million military members, retirees, and family members; With assets spanning 25 million acres around the world, roughly the size of Kentucky, the Department of Defense's global assets are worth far more than Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and Walmart combined. At this scale, we must use data and artificial intelligence to manage taxpayer money smarter, faster, and better.
So, in 2022, in line with business best practices, we integrated 4 different digital, AI and analytics teams, led by an empowered Chief Digital and AI Officer (CDAO), who reports directly to the Secretary of Defense. CDO's core mission is to accelerate the Department of Defense's adoption of data, analytics, and artificial intelligence from the boardroom to the battlefield. In a short period of time, we have seen significant progress.
Personnel from the Naval Special Operations Command from the West Coast operate the R80D Skyraider drone during Operation Noble Defender in Alaska, September 13, 2022. 】
One point of investment, one point of combat effectiveness
Hicks said that over the past decade or so, advances in machine learning have led to a new generation of AI innovations. Our task today in the Ministry of Defense is to adopt these innovations wherever they can add maximum military value. From day one, that was Secretary Austin and my top priority.
We know we must build quickly and responsibly – iterate and invest now to deliver a more modern, data-driven and AI-enabled military.
It doesn't take years or decades to deliver," Hicks said, "and our investments in data, artificial intelligence, and computing are empowering modern warfare warriors." "The Department of Defense intends to build on its success, and it also needs congressional funding that can be made in a timely manner.
"We can't do it without resources," Hicks said. One of our operational commanders recently approached me and pointed out that without our FY2024 appropriation, the CDAO advance they relied on would have been in vain. "We need Congress to come together, it's long overdue, and delays are devastating," she said. ”
Maintaining a strong and sustained investment in "arming" the military with AI is "a key part of the U.S. strategy to build lasting military superiority." Hicks said: The Department of Defense's FY 2024 budget includes $145 billion in research and development and $170 billion in procurement, which is a clear indication of its commitment to staying ahead of the curve, "which is a large percentage of the $842 billion budget (37.)"4%), I would like to point out, this is the largest commitment ever made in these areas. These investments in advanced technology, as well as the Defense Department's ability to leverage U.S. allies, are critical to deterring and preventing future conflicts, she said.
data andAI is not
Hicks said these efforts are advancing U.S. capabilities in a material way, but they are not an "AI arms race," which we don't see that way, and we don't seek such an arms race.
After all, data and AI are not, they are basic general-purpose technologies, just like electricity. History is instructive: the greatest military use of electricity is not to electrocute enemy troops (laughter).
On the contrary, the value of electricity lies in almost insignificant functions: radios, radars, semiconductors, satellites, night vision goggles, data links, combat networks, precision-guided munitions, avionics that enable the Dagger ** bomber to fly, wifi ......All these things, so basic and transformative for the army, seem like magic at first. Today, these technologies continue to evolve and improve, yet they have become so common that many people now take them for granted and they are almost boring.
The same goes for data and AI. In fact, the most transformative use cases may seem boring, but they are essential because they support warfighters and all those who support them.
This means that the advantages of data and AI will fall into the hands of countries that use them better, faster, smarter and safer. Today, this is the United States of America. We have better chips, better people, better technology, and better values to guide how we use data and AI.
We intend to stay ahead of the curve. Our advantage comes from who is building them, who is using them, and how we use them. In these arenas, the United States is always invincible.
Developing AI talent is key
Hicks said staying ahead of the curve requires continuous improvement of internal processes, investment in talent and effective partnerships with the industry. We must continue to improve the way we recruit and retain the top talent that the private sector desperately needs.
We are fortunate to be able to develop our own talent throughout the Joint Force, and we have so many great data scientists, software engineers, and analysts on our team – many in this room – who are all world-class technologists who choose to serve despite many other career options.
Just as the departure of business leaders from the C-suite during World War II helped us outperform the Axis powers, today we are fortunate that top tech talent in the private sector is increasingly choosing to work for us and with us – leaving high-paying jobs at companies like Lyft, Apple, Google AI, and more.
Each of them sees and knows what is at stake in this strategic competition between us and the PRC, and it is not just patriotism that inspires them, it is a sincere desire to serve, and they feel a duty to give back to the country that has given them so many opportunities. Because they know that so much of America's innovative success is made possible by American democracy, investment, good schools, equal rights, and total freedoms to protect us all.
Patriotism and an appeal for public service are powerful things, but they are not omnipotent. At least, not for everyone. Compensation matters, employee culture matters, team building matters, how we treat people matters, training, career development, time spent with family ......These are all important.
It's also important to have tools and information technology that allows you to work without a rush (laughter).
Bring in talent, use all the flexible powers that Congress has given us to shorten hiring times, give people meaningful and purposeful work, make sure everyone can take time off, and recharge ...... every once in a whileAll of these are important.
On February 22, Li Yi, a well-known professor in the United States, left a message to the author: Regarding the issue of AI, I have done two episodes of the program this year, but after I talked about it, it did not have a sensational effect, nor did it attract the attention of relevant parties. Now a month or two has passed, and it has developed into this, on February 15, the American artificial intelligence research company OpenAI officially released the artificial intelligence Wensheng ** large model "World Simulator" Sora. Artificial intelligence is developing at a rapid pace, and it can be described as a rapid ......
The author believes that we should indeed attach great importance to it, because artificial intelligence may become an important driving force for a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation. With the blessing, implantation, and application of artificial intelligence in various fields in the United States, especially in the military field, it may bring about a "mutation" in the military scientific and technological revolution, which will greatly improve the combat effectiveness of the US military, and rapidly widen the gap with the world's leading forces, and even lead to changes in the form of future wars. There is no doubt that whoever first has the "artificial intelligence armament" will have the ability to reduce the dimensionality of the enemy.
(The author is a special researcher of Kunlunce Research Institute, and the Kunlun Ce Research Institute is the first original).