DoD launches 'Task Force Lima' to study AI defensive potential

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Breaking Defense
13 Aug 2023 18:07

The US Defense Department establishes Task Force Lima to harness the potential of generative AI tools for innovation and national security.

Aerial picture of the Pentagon Building in Washington DC, USA, March 2, 2022 (AP)

Earlier this week, the US Deputy Secretary of Defense announced the launching of a new initiative aimed at studying the defensive potential of generative AI tools to bolster innovation efforts and ensure national security.

The initiative, dubbed Task Force Lima, would play a pivotal role in assessing, synchronizing, and deploying generative AI capabilities across the DoD, and it would be led by the Pentagon's Chief Digital and AI Office (CDAO), Breaking Defense reported.

“The establishment of Task Force Lima underlines the Department of Defense’s unwavering commitment to leading the charge in AI innovation,” Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks said in a statement. “As we navigate the transformative power of generative AI, our focus remains steadfast on ensuring national security, minimizing risks, and responsibly integrating these technologies. The future of defense is not just about adopting cutting-edge technologies, but doing so with foresight, responsibility, and a deep understanding of the broader implications for our nation.”

"The future of defense is not just about adopting cutting-edge technologies, but doing so with foresight, responsibility, and a deep understanding of the broader implications for our nation," she added.

The task force, as outlined in a memorandum by Deputy Secretary Hicks, aims to formulate policies that ensure the responsible use of the technology. The CDAO will reportedly collaborate with various offices within the DoD to address these concerns comprehensively.

“The DoD has an imperative to responsibly pursue the adoption of generative AI models while identifying proper protective measures and mitigating national security risks that may result from issues such as poorly managed training data,” Craig Martell, a CDAO officer, said in the announcement. “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.”

Back in July, it was reported that the DoD is examining for the first time large language artificial intelligence (AI) exercises to test how they during major military tasks.

Major power-generative AI tools such as OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Bard were used as part of an eight-week exercise run by the Pentagon's digital and AI office.

According to Bloomberg, the exercise reflects fear that generative AI can compound bias and relay incorrect information with striking confidence. Moreover, AI can also be penetrated in many ways, including the damage of data by poisoning it, the report said.