{"id":109742,"date":"2023-06-20T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-20T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/industry\/blog\/?p=109742"},"modified":"2023-06-16T13:37:21","modified_gmt":"2023-06-16T20:37:21","slug":"enhance-command-and-control-with-ai-and-machine-learning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/industry\/blog\/government\/2023\/06\/20\/enhance-command-and-control-with-ai-and-machine-learning\/","title":{"rendered":"Enhance command and control with AI and machine learning"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
The rapidly evolving use of commercial technologies in the operating environment, as evidenced most recently by the conflict in Ukraine, has made it clear\u2014militaries that leverage the vast capabilities of cloud-enabled technology benefit from distinct advantages in command and control, as well as mission outcomes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now more than ever software-centric technologies, like AI and machine learning, are enabling the processing of a vast array of data across the defense continuum. These technologies are elevating data to insights, and helping to inform decision-making to support mission operations and personnel across the defense landscape\u2014from headquarters (HQ) to the tactical level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s explore a few ways defense and intelligence organizations are using cloud technologies<\/a> to help enhance command and control and gain advantages to make better decisions ahead of their adversaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The modern operating environment is complex for commanders and staff at both the operational and strategic levels. The use of AI-enabled technology can significantly enhance strategic decision-making and coordination across all domains\u2014land, air, sea, space, and cyberspace. In doing so, both commanders and staff can gain valuable insights and enable decision advantage at speed and scale. <\/p>\n\n\n\n AI models can help integrate data from various sources\u2014including disparate sensors, open sources, and intelligence reports\u2014to provide a comprehensive situational awareness picture. By rapidly processing, fusing, and analyzing this data, AI can identify relevant information, detect patterns and anomalies, and generate actionable insight for commanders and staff. AI can help staff identify trends, forecast potential outcomes, and assess potential risks. They can then leverage these predictive analytics to anticipate threats, optimize resource allocation, and plan effective courses of action across one or more domains for command consideration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, AI-powered decision support systems can assist in evaluating complex scenarios. They can help assess the impact of different options, recommend optimal courses of action, and consider factors like mission objectives, available assets, and potential risks\u2014helping commanders make more effective and timely decisions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n AI can also automate coordination and communication processes across jurisdictions and domains by analyzing operational parameters, resource availability, and mission requirements. This can then help optimize the allocation of forces, logistics, and intelligence assets, and facilitate streamlining and facilitating more effective decision-making. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, natural language processing enables HQ staff to interact with systems using natural, native language (English or otherwise) to access information more intuitively. Voice-activated interfaces and text-based chatbots can facilitate real-time information retrieval, status updates, and command inquiries, allowing for more efficient and seamless communication within the headquarters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Operations centers in HQ environments can also be automated in new ways with AI to streamline processes, optimize resource management, and provide insights for decision-making. Using AI, a modern operations center can integrate various systems, sensors, communication networks, databases, and analytical tools into a unified platform. AI algorithms continuously collect, analyze, and process this data, providing real-time situational awareness to staff. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Through data fusion and advanced analytics, the automated operations center can identify patterns, anomalies, and potential threats, and generate actionable intelligence, alerts, and reports. This empowers staff to provide better recommendations to commanders for their consideration. By employing machine learning algorithms<\/a>, the operations center can better predict outcomes, assess risks, and optimize resource allocation and readiness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, routine tasks\u2014such as data collection, processing, and reporting\u2014can be automated, freeing up personnel to focus on more advanced staff planning and other critical tasks. This transformative approach helps automate the operations center, providing a centralized platform for sharing information, collaborating on planning and operations, and monitoring ongoing activities\u2014in sum, facilitating better command and staff engagement and decision-making. <\/p>\n\n\n\nStrategic perspective: HQ applications <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
AI-enhanced domain awareness <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Automated operations centers <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tactical perspective: Frontline applications <\/h2>\n\n\n\n