U.S. Military Allocates $2 Billion to Revolutionize Artificial Intelligence

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For the first time, the U.S. military’s research wing will be allocating $2 billion to develop a new generation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with “human-like communication and reasoning capabilities” following the footsteps of China, who already devoted billions to this issue. The funding comes at a time of increasing U.S. worry over China’s national AI strategy.

Chinese tech giants such as Alibaba and Baidu work closely with the government on AI that could have applications for autonomous vehicles, health care and national security. In fact, the Chinese government has invested in a multi-year AI campaign projected could be worth $150 billion by 2020.

The White House said in July that American leadership in AI was the federal government’s second-highest budget priority for research and development, above American manufacturing, space exploration and medical innovation. According to military officials, AI could also revolutionize espionage, national security and the battlefield.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, will use the money to fund around 20 existing projects over the next five years and launch new ones over the next 12 months seeking a higher level of machine learning, as reported by phys.org. This is part of a “Third Wave” campaign aimed at developing machines that can learn and adapt to changing environments.

The investment aims to “transform computers from specialized tools to partners in problem-solving,”, according to Steven Walker, the director of The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). He refers to these developments as “AI Next.”

“It’s the first indication that the United States is addressing advanced AI technology with the scale and funding and seriousness that the issue demands,” said Gregory C. Allen, an adjunct fellow specializing in AI and robotics for the Center for a New American Security, a Washington think tank, as reported by washingtonpost.com.

DARPA’s expansion comes at times of tension, as just 3 months ago Google announced it would not renew its Defense Department contract to help develop AI that could analyze drone footage. However, “there are hundreds if not thousands of schools and companies that bid aggressively on the programs,” Peter Highnam, DARPA’s deputy director, said in a June interview.

The programs in question explore innovative applications of AI, including in cybersecurity; the detection of AI-created fake audio or video; and in “human-computer symbiosis” programs targeting the interaction between people and machines.

Some proposals would use AI to tackle logistical challenges, such as vetting people for security clearances or reducing the data or power needs of military machines. But others are more conceptual, including programs devoted to “explainable AI,” a growing movement in the field devoted to designing software that can spell out how it came to a conclusion and justify its response.