The Department of Defense's Office of the Chief of Staff for Digital and Artificial Intelligence announced Thursday the launch of a new initiative to provide Department of Defense personnel with resources on artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
The new platform will give all Department of Defense military and civilian employees access to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Horizon platform.
The online resource “comprises bite-sized learning assets” on AI tools and other technologies such as cybersecurity, 5G, edge computing and the Internet of Things, the ministry said in a press release.
Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer Craig Martel said the goal of the “Digital on Demand” initiative is to “advance fundamental understanding of AI systems and other emerging technologies” across the Department of Defense. Stated.
“This resource will show DoD personnel how to fit into the future of these advancements and further enable deployment across the department,” he added.
Thursday's launch follows a pilot of the Department of Defense's 101 Training Program in August 2022 to increase knowledge of emerging technologies for approximately 1,200 employees. According to the Department of Defense, 91% of test participants said they felt the content broadened their understanding of AI, and 97% said it was relevant to their role.
Following the pilot, the Department of Defense soft-launched its digital on-demand platform earlier this summer with personnel from U.S. Special Operations Command and U.S. Central Command.
The platform is accessible through Digital University, a joint venture between the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Space Force, and provides access to training content for personnel. Department of Defense employees and personnel with “.mil” email accounts can create a Digital University Account to access the MIT Horizon platform.
