The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report last week on the Department of Defense’s efforts to acquire technologies based on artificial intelligence. According to the report, “DOD has not issued comprehensive department-wide guidance for AI acquisitions,” and the various branches of the armed forces “have not issued service-specific guidance that is tailored to their individual needs.” Per Inside Defense:
The lack of comprehensive guidance for acquiring AI stands in stark contrast with the fact that DOD has designated it as a top modernization priority, planning to spend $1.1 billion on “core” AI efforts and $16.5 billion on AI-related science and technology programs during fiscal year 2023, according to GAO.
As a quip said to have come from a Cold War–era Soviet has it, “a serious problem in planning against American doctrine is that the Americans do not read their manuals, nor do they feel any obligation to follow their doctrine.” Unpredictability may be a useful attribute on the battlefield, but military logistics need to be far more orderly. Declaring something a priority does little when it is not treated as such; such designations need to be backed up with clear plans as to how the technology will be integrated into our arsenals. Without such a strategy, various subgroups within the armed forces are likely to duplicate research and testing efforts, wasting resources and leaving our defense systems behind the times.
It also goes without saying that $17 billion is a great deal of money. The military is well worth its cost, even considering that it is far better funded than any of its global competitors. But America’s willingness to open our wallets for defense does not excuse the Pentagon from managing its resources wisely. The decision to make this money available for AI without clear acquisition guidelines is only one example of the Pentagon playing fast and loose with its budget. So is the $6 billion accounting error it recently announced in order to give Ukraine more aid — not to mention the fact that it’s never passed an audit.
Most Americans want to ensure that our national defense is properly funded. We would also like to feel confident, however, that when Congress writes the DOD a massive check, it will be spent efficiently.