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AI and Autonomy Opportunities and Challenges

/reports/2017/ai-and-autonomy-opportunities-and-challenges

The military is on the cusp of a major technological revolution, in which warfare is conducted by unmanned and increasingly autonomous weapon systems. This exploratory study considers the state-of-the-art of artificial intelligence (AI), machine- learning, and robot technologies, and their potential future military implications for autonomous (and semi-autonomous) weapon systems. Although no one can predict how AI will evolve or how it will affect the development of military autonomous systems, we can anticipate many of the conceptual, technical, and operational challenges that DOD will face as it increasingly turns to AI-based technologies. We identified four key gaps facing DOD as the military evolves toward an “autonomy era”: (1) a mismatch of timescales between the pace of commercial innovation and DOD’s acquisition process; (2) an underappreciation of the fundamental unpredictability of autonomous systems; (3) a lack of a universally agreed upon conceptual framework for autonomy; and (4) a disconnect between the design of autonomous systems and CONOPS development. We examine these gaps, provide a roadmap of opportunities and challenges, and identify areas of future studies.

as the military evolves toward an “autonomy era”: (1) a mismatch of timescales between the pace of commercial innovation and DOD’s acquisition process; (2) an underappreciation of the fundamental ... deeply entwined with developments in science and technology (see figure 1). Ever since a caveman first picked up a nearby rock to strike down an enemy, the use of new tools to safely project power ... deeper connection between the development of technology and weapons systems has been forged by national offset strategies. An offset strategy is a general set of peacetime policies designed to mitigate

pla update: Issue 5, June 6, 2022

/our-media/newsletters/pla-update/issue-5

PLA Update, Issue 5, is a CNA China Studies Program monthly newsletter, with summaries of Chinese media coverage of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

, to discuss new technology, future warfare, operational support, and command and control (C2) issues related to the air and space domains. [14] According to Xinhua , forum attendees exchanged views ... strategic objectives, including the effort to transform the PLA into a "world-class military" by mid-century. [20] One focus area of MCF is the acquisition of foreign dual-use technologies, which PRC actors may procure through both legal and illegal means . [21] The first summary in this section addresses reported concerns about transfers of US technology to China and finds that a PRC

David Johnson

/about-us/leadership/board-of-trustees/david-johnson

. Johnson completed a distinguished 36-year career in the U.S. Navy. He most recently served as the Principal Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition ... Naval Sea Systems Command for Undersea Technology, Commander Naval Undersea Warfare Center, major program manager for Virginia Class Submarines, and various assignments in ship design, construction, maintenance, modernization and technology development. Adm. Johnson graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering. He also holds a naval engineering

New Report: How China Legally Accesses Foreign Technologies to Build Military Capabilities

/our-media/press-releases/2020/07-23

China’s ability to access critical technology, from intellectual property to microchip designs, could ultimately erode the technological superiority of the United States and its allies, particularly in the strategically significant Indo-Pacific region.

China’s ability to access critical technology, from intellectual property to microchip designs, could ultimately erode the technological superiority of the United States and its allies, particularly ... to access critical technology, from intellectual property to microchip designs, could ultimately erode the technological superiority of the United States and its allies, particularly in the strategically ... foreign technology in order to advance its own national security agenda — while undermining U.S. commercial and security interests. China uses a series of legal yet problematic economic tools

The People's Republic of China Uses Diverse Tools to Access Foreign Technology and Critical Infrastructure

/quick-looks/2022/the-prc-uses-diverse-tools-to-access-foreign-technology-and-critical-infrastructure

CNA illustrates the different tools used by the People's Republic of China to access foreign technology and infrastructure.

THE PRC USES DIVERSE TOOLS TO ACCESS FOREIGN TECHNOLOGY AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE CNA illustrates the different tools used by the People's Republic of China to access foreign technology and infrastructure. THE PRC USES LEGAL AND ILLEGAL METHODS TO OBTAIN UNSANCTIONED ACCESS TO TARGETED TECHNOLOGY AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. The PRC has a large “toolkit” it can use—often employing several tools at once. PRC methods continually evolve to evade or bypass other countries’ legal and regulatory measures. When one method of technology acquisition fails, PRC actors will pursue another

Dimensions of Autonomous Decision Making

/reports/2021/12/dimensions-of-autonomous-decision-making

We identify the dimensions of autonomous decision-making—the potential risk that one should consider before transferring decision-making to an intelligent autonomous system.

a comprehensive list of 565 “risk elements” drawn from hundreds of documents authored by a global cadre of individuals both in favor of, and opposed to, the use of autonomy technology in weapons systems ... . Each can then be easily modified to become a “shall statement” for use by the acquisition community in developing functional requirements that ensure the legal and ethical use of autonomous systems ... designed for use within the defense acquisition system and the military planning process, they provide a first step in transforming the policies and ethics principles regarding autonomous systems

Intersections: Technology, National Security, and US-China Strategic Competition

/our-media/newsletters/intersections

Intersections, a limited-series news digest, takes a deep dive into the People’s Republic of China’s techniques for accessing foreign technology and risks that these acquisition efforts pose to the U.S. defense industrial base.

Intersections Intersections, a limited-series news digest, takes a deep dive into the People’s Republic of China’s techniques for accessing foreign technology and risks that these acquisition efforts pose to the U.S. defense industrial base. /Newsletters/Intersections/CIP-Intersections-NLBanner-Webbanner.webp Intersections: Technology, National Security, and US-China Strategic Competition 10 list 8

Checklist Advances the Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence

/our-media/press-releases/2022/01-24

CNA introduces tool to implement ethics policies for autonomous systems

to implement Department of Defense policy on ethical artificial intelligence. It consists of 565 questions to be answered by technology developers and commanders before they develop or deploy ... the system into inappropriate behaviors? Have all on-scene commanders, engineers, acquisition officials and supported troops received training in the Law of Armed Conflict, intelligent autonomous

Dave Johnson and Peter Neffenger Join CNA's Board of Trustees

/our-media/press-releases/2020/01-16

CNA President and CEO Katherine McGrady today announced that Vice Admiral David Johnson, USN (Ret.), and Vice Admiral Peter Neffenger, USCG (Ret.), are joining the CNA Board of Trustees.

and Acquisition, where he had responsibility for all Navy and Marine Corps programs and development for maritime, ground, aviation, space and C4I systems. VADM Neffenger was appointed in 2015 ... of Technology and a bachelor’s in aerospace engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy. He also has received various personal and campaign awards, including the Distinguished Service Medal with one gold star

Putting Innovation into Practice

/reports/2020/09/putting-innovation-into-practice

Innovation is a key enabling concept in the 2018 National Defense Strategy. Not only does the US military need to continue to maintain effectiveness in military operations, but in the face of a new competitive environment, and the increasing importance of commercial technology, the US will need to practice innovation to maintain a military edge and meet national security goals. The critical role of innovation is repeated throughout the NDS. But what can the US do to pursue effective innovation? And what is innovation anyway? We examine innovation through consideration of specific military examples—both historical and contemporary—as well as examining academic literature and past CNA products addressing innovation. After developing a functional definition of innovation, we provide best practices and principles that DOD can apply in order to put innovation into practice.

to maintain effectiveness in military operations, but in the face of a new competitive environment, and the increasing importance of commercial technology, the US will need to practice innovation to maintain ... and the increasing importance of commercial technology, the U.S. will also need to practice innovation to maintain a military edge and meet national security goals. The critical role of innovation ... DOD initiatives on innovation is to accelerate the acquisition process. This is a narrower focus than the more comprehensive process we see in our definition of innovation. We conclude that DOD efforts