DoD and MIT Partnership: Tech Education Advancement
The DoD is now partnered with MIT to offer courses on artificial intelligence, big-data analytics, and wireless communications technologies.
The Defense Department’s Chief Digital and AI Office, or CDAO, recently announced the launch of “Digital On-Demand,” providing not only military but also civilian DoD employees access to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s online learning library.
The initiative, made possible through the Air and Space forces’ Digital University, is meant to foster a baseline understanding of AI and other emerging technologies, according to Craig Martell, who leads the CDAO. The office was established in 2021 to fast track the DoD’s embrace of AI and best-in-class data practices.
“This resource demonstrates to the DoD workforce how they fit into the future of these advancements and further enables their adoption throughout the DoD,” he said in a statement.
Results of a previous pilot show a vast majority of participants found the teachings relevant. The tools are available as the Defense Department pours money into AI and advocates for its ethical employment on the battlefield and in the boardroom.
The department in fiscal 2024 sought $1.8 billion for AI. It was juggling more than 685 AI-related projects as of 2021, according to the Government Accountability Office.
Widespread understanding of the technology — its strengths, weaknesses and blindspots — is critical to its successful application. Building trust between man and machine is a complex process, often requiring repeated exposure, according to a GAO report.
“The DoD is on a historical journey of building a digital workforce. When it comes to AI and emerging technologies, it is really important that their employees are all speaking the same language,” Kathleen Kennedy, the senior director of MIT Horizon and executive director of the MIT Center for Collective Intelligence, said in a statement. “We are excited to collaborate with DoD on this effort to accelerate AI knowledge and emerging technologies across their entire workforce.”