A safe space for AI development on DOD networks -- GCN

Air Force researchers working with artificial intelligence code may soon have a platform that gives them secure access to educated end-users and outside developers, algorithms, mission data and computational hardware. Because the Defense Department's does not allow unvetted software or code on its networks, it's difficult for developers to experiment with cutting-edge tools. But the Air Force is looking to dismantle some of those barriers with its Air Force Cognitive Engine (ACE) software platform. "We're trying to create a software ecosystem to hook up the core infrastructures that are required for successful AI development -- that's people, algorithms, data and computational resources," said Maj. Michael Seal, director for the Air Force's Autonomy Capability Team 3, which leads the ACE program. The traditional DOD way, Seal said during the Defense Department's April 25 Lab Day, is for people to use the network they're told to use, use one that houses data from an amalgamation of sources and use whatever tools are approved and available.