Below is a June 29, 2023 Government Accountability Office report, “Artificial Intelligence: Department of Defense Needs Department-Wide Guidance to Inform Acquisitions.”
from the report
What GAO found
The Department of Defense (DOD) has designated artificial intelligence (AI) as a top priority area for modernization, allocating significant funds to develop AI tools and capabilities. AI refers to computer systems designed to mimic various human functions and continuously improve their assigned tasks. DOD AI capabilities can be used in a variety of ways, including identifying potential threats and targets on the battlefield.
GAO obtained information from 13 private companies on how they have successfully acquired AI capabilities. Elements of these categories, shown below, are also reflected in his June 2021 edition of the GAO. AI accountability framework Report (GAO-21-519SP).
Categories of Factors Reported Select Firms Consider When Acquiring Artificial Intelligence Capabilities
Despite numerous organizations across the DOD acquiring, developing, or already using AI, the DOD has not issued sector-wide guidance on how its components should approach acquiring AI . The Department of Defense is planning to develop such guidance, but has not set out a specific plan or set a timeline for doing so. Military officials also lack guidance specific to AI acquisition, but military officials said such guidance would help them navigate the AI acquisition process. Without sector-wide service-level guidance, the DoD is missing an opportunity to ensure its continued acquisition of AI capabilities in a manner that considers the unique challenges associated with AI.
Various DoD components and military services have independently developed or will develop their own informal AI acquisition resources. Some of these resources reflect key factors identified by private companies for AI acquisition. For example, the Department of Defense’s Chief of Digital and Her AI oversees an AI marketplace known as Tradewind, which aims to facilitate the procurement of AI capabilities. Several Tradewind resources highlight the need to consider intellectual property and data rights concerns when negotiating contracts for AI capabilities, key factors identified by companies interviewed by GAO. .
Why GAO Conducted This Survey
DOD is beginning to pursue increasingly advanced AI capabilities. The Department of Defense has historically struggled to acquire weapons systems software, and acquiring AI poses additional challenges. In February 2022, GAO outlined the status of DoD efforts to develop and acquire AI for weapons systems.
Senate Report 116-236, accompanying the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, includes provisions for the GAO to review the Department of Defense’s AI acquisition efforts. This is his second report pursuant to that provision. The report describes (1) the key factors that selected private companies reported considering when acquiring AI capabilities, (2) the extent to which the Department of Defense has guidance on sector-wide AI acquisitions, and We examine how this guidance reflects the key factors identified by the private sector. sector company.
GAO analyzed information provided by 13 private companies with expertise in designing, developing, and deploying AI systems in various fields and identified key factors. GAO also analyzed DoD documents, compared key elements, and interviewed DoD officials.
Download the document here.
