Artificial Intelligence Is Now a Pentagon Priority. Will Silicon Valley Help?

It is not clear what impact, if any, Mr. Mattis's memo had. Though the White House announced in May -- about three weeks before he sent his note -- that it would establish a panel of government officials to study A.I. issues, critics say the administration still has not done enough to set federal policy. Officials with the Office of Science and Technology Policy, which would most likely take a leadership role in setting an agenda for A.I., said that A.I. is a national research and development priority and that it is part of the president's national security and defense strategies. Nonetheless, the Pentagon appears to be pushing ahead on its own, looking for ways to strengthen its ties with A.I. researchers, particularly in Silicon Valley, where there is considerable wariness about working with the military and intelligence agencies. In late June, the Pentagon announced the creation of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, or JAIC.