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Pentagon creates generative AI task force

  • ‘We must consider the extent to which our adversaries will employ this technology and seek to disrupt our own use of AI-based solutions,’ says new unit’s leader
  • Washington is increasingly wary of Beijing’s access to its AI technology for military use

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The Pentagon is calling the new group Task Force Lima. Photo: AP
Amber Wangin Washington

The US has established its first generative artificial intelligence task force, the Pentagon announced on Thursday, amid fierce competition with China in the domain that is vital to future warfare.

Task Force Lima, as it is called, will assess, synchronise and employ generative AI capabilities across the Defence Department, ensuring that it remains at the forefront of cutting-edge technologies while safeguarding national security, according to a Pentagon statement.

Craig Martell, the department’s chief digital and artificial intelligence officer and the task force’s leader, said the Pentagon had an imperative to responsibly pursue the adoption of generative AI models while mitigating national security risks. “We must also consider the extent to which our adversaries will employ this technology and seek to disrupt our own use of AI-based solutions,” he added.

Generative AI is “a category of AI algorithms that generate new outputs based on the data they have been trained on”, according to the World Economic Forum, with a wide range of applications including the creation of images, text and audio. The most widely known generative AI application is ChatGPT, which was launched in 2022.

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By leveraging generative AI models, which can use vast data sets to train algorithms and generate products, the Pentagon said it aimed to enhance its operations in areas such as warfare, readiness, health and policy.

Task Force Lima’s mission commander, Captain M. Xavier Lugo of the US Navy, said the Pentagon recognised generative AI’s potential to significantly improve intelligence, operational planning, and administrative and business processes. “However, responsible implementation is key to managing associated risks effectively,” he said.

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