Army Launches AI Pilot for Acquisition Efficiency

The U.S. Army has announced the launch of #CalibrateAI, a pilot program aimed at exploring the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance Army acquisition activities. Jennifer Swanson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Data, Engineering, and Software, introduced the initiative, which will examine how generative AI can improve the efficiency and accuracy of information retrieval and analysis.

#CalibrateAI will utilize a generative AI tool developed by one of the Army’s industry partners, which will be provided at no cost to the Army. The AI tool incorporates advanced technology, data analytics, machine learning, and natural language processing to deliver relevant, tailored responses to specific topics. The initiative is designed to simplify repetitive tasks and enhance decision-making within Army acquisition processes.

“By leveraging AI tools and utilizing cross-service authority-to-operate reciprocity granted by DoD CIO, #CalibrateAI will focus on increasing productivity and ensuring the accuracy of information,” said Ms. Swanson. “This pilot will allow us to query curated document sets for generating new content while maintaining verifiability through citations.”

The pilot program aligns with the Army CIO’s broader generative AI initiative and serves as a platform for experimentation and feedback. Deployed within a secure Impact Level 5 cloud environment, the AI tool is designed to manage controlled unclassified information with high-level security measures, ensuring data protection and confidentiality. The tool also includes user-access controls to safeguard sensitive information.

Key objectives of #CalibrateAI include:

Increasing productivity by using AI to collate, curate, and generate critical acquisition information.

Improving accuracy through citation mechanisms that support content verification.

Promoting innovation by exploring new AI applications in Army acquisition.

Contributing to the Army CIO’s pilot initiative to scope a cost-effective path for broader adoption of AI technologies.