The U.S. military is venturing into various artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, ranging from predictive maintenance of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) to analyzing extensive satellite data for enhanced space situational awareness.
This exploration opens avenues for AI startups like Virtualitics, which has secured research contracts from the Air Force and Space Force. The company offers an AI tool aimed at identifying vulnerabilities in procurement programs by leveraging historical data analysis and predicting potential issues before they arise.
Kyle Rice, Chief Technology Officer of Virtualitics' federal business, underscored AI's significance in addressing the Space Force's procurement needs, particularly in satellite acquisition processes.
Rice emphasized AI's potential in flagging risks by scrutinizing historical data and identifying patterns from past contracts. Speaking at the Air & Space Forces Association's Warfare Conference in Aurora, Colorado, Rice highlighted the value of AI in project assessment, enabling insights into successful system attributes and potential project derailments.
Virtualitics, headquartered in Pasadena, California, previously collaborated with the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center on predictive maintenance for Minuteman 3 ICBMs. The company currently holds an active contract with the Air Force Global Strike Command for predictive maintenance of the nation's bomber aircraft fleet, facilitating maintenance needs prediction, equipment failure identification, inventory management, and human resource allocation.
Rice stressed the potential cost-saving benefits of AI-driven procurement analysis, noting the ability to uncover hidden trends and red flags associated with vendors, projects, or technologies.
However, questions have been raised regarding the reliability of AI applications in military contexts. Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy, moderating the panel discussion, expressed concerns about the trustworthiness of AI systems and referenced public skepticism surrounding AI-generated content.
Rice acknowledged these concerns, noting that AI tools utilized by the military rely on structured datasets, ensuring the analytical results are grounded in data and explainable. He differentiated between deterministic AI applications, favored for their reliability in critical scenarios, and generative AI, which offers creativity but may lack accuracy in certain contexts.
The military's focus on leveraging AI primarily for enhanced analysis underscores the importance of balancing innovative capabilities with reliability and trustworthiness in defense applications.