New Report Highlights Need for Department-Wide Guidance in DoD's AI Acquisition Strategy

July 10, 2023

The Department of Defense (DoD) designated artificial intelligence (AI) a top modernization area and is allocating considerable spending to develop AI tools and capabilities. AI refers to computer systems designed to replicate a range of human functions and continually get better at their assigned tasks. DoD AI capabilities could be used in various ways, for example in identifying potential threats or targets on the battlefield.

Although numerous entities across DoD are acquiring, developing, or already

using AI, DoD has not issued department-wide guidance for how its components should approach acquiring AI, according to a new 44-page report published by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). DoD is in the process of planning to develop such guidance, but it has not defined concrete plans and has no timeline to do so. The military services also lack AI acquisition-specific guidance, though military officials noted that such guidance would be helpful to navigate the AI acquisition process. Without department-wide and tailored service-level guidance, DoD is missing an opportunity to ensure that it is consistently acquiring AI capabilities in a manner that accounts for the unique challenges associated with AI.

The department plans to spend $16.5 billion on science and technology programs, including $1.1 billion to directly support its AI efforts, in fiscal year 2023. Given the growing significance of AI to DoD’s acquisition goals, the Senate Report accompanying S. 4049, a bill for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, includes a provision for GAO to review DoD AI acquisition-related efforts. This is the second report from the GAO in response to that provision.

The report examines key factors that selected private sector companies reported considering when acquiring AI capabilities, and (2) the extent to which DoD’s AI acquisition guidance,

if any, reflects key factors identified by private sector companies. GAO analyzed information provided by 13 private companies with expertise in designing, developing, and deploying AI systems in various sectors to determine the key factors. GAO also analyzed DoD documentation and compared it with the key factors, and interviewed DOD officials.

GAO is making four recommendations for DoD and the three military departments to develop guidance on acquiring AI capabilities, including the following:

The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Chief Digital and AI Officer, in conjunction with other DoD acquisition policy offices as appropriate, prioritize establishing department-wide AI acquisition guidance, including leveraging key private company factors, as appropriate.
After DoD issues department-wide AI acquisition guidance, the Secretary of the Army should establish service-specific AI acquisition guidance that includes oversight processes and clear goals for these acquisitions, and leverages key private company factors, as appropriate.
After DoD issues department-wide AI acquisition guidance, the Secretary of the Navy should establish service-specific AI acquisition guidance that includes oversight processes and clear goals for these acquisitions, and leverages key private company factors, as appropriate.
After DoD issues department-wide AI acquisition guidance, the Secretary of the Air Force should establish service-specific AI acquisition guidance that includes oversight processes and clear goals for these acquisitions, and leverages key private company factors, as appropriate.

Check out the full report in the link below.

Source