The US Army’s Data, Engineering and Software division is taking steps to enhance its military capabilities through projects involving artificial intelligence (AI). 

The division has initiated a pilot project, CalibrateAI, to integrate generative AI into army acquisition processes.  

CalibrateAI is designed to streamline information retrieval and analysis through advanced technology, including data analytics, machine learning, and natural language processing. 

The project, in line with the Army Chief Information Officer’s generative AI initiative, offers a platform for AI experimentation and feedback.  

It aims to simplify repetitive tasks in a secure cloud environment, capable of handling controlled unclassified information data.  

The tool features customisable user-access controls to ensure data security and confidentiality. 

The project will also focus on identifying and correcting any ‘hallucinations’ or errors in the AI-generated content, enhancing the reliability of the information produced.  

US Army Data, Engineering and Software Deputy Assistant Secretary Jennifer Swanson said: “By using off-the-shelf AI tools and leveraging cross-service authority-to-operate reciprocity granted by DoD CIO, CalibrateAI will explore how we increase productivity while enhancing the accuracy of information. 

“The ability to query curated document sets for generating new content, along with providing citations, will ensure that our outputs are not only accurate but also easily fact-checked.” 

CalibrateAI’s aims to boost productivity by collating, curating, and generating vital information for acquisition activities, with mechanisms to provide citations for content integrity and verifiability. 

Separately, the European Defence Agency (EDA) has convened military experts, researchers, and industry professionals to advance the testing and evaluation of military capabilities.  

The EDA has prioritised the development of defence systems testing and evaluation centres since its establishment in 2004.  

The conference addressed the lessons from the conflict in Ukraine, the role of AI and big data in defence testing, and the challenges of ensuring interoperability among European forces.  

The discussions included the IT platform developed for the European Defence Test and Evaluation Base (DTEB), which identifies test centres and resources across EU Member States. Delegates shared international cooperation case studies. 

The Fourth Test and Evaluation Community Days Conference was held in Linköping, Sweden from 8 October 2024. It saw more than 100 participants from various EU Member States and institutions come together to discuss the future of military testing and evaluation. 

Co-organised with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, the event also featured visits to test centres in Karlsborg and Linköping.