At the conclusion of Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael Gilday’s January 2019 FRAGO, he noted “Your tenacity, drive, and initiative will take us where we need to go—and do so at a flank bell.” A flank bell is the way the joint force must approach developing manned-unmanned teaming. This will not be an easy challenge to overcome, but as retired Marine Corps General James Mattis noted when he was serving as the Secretary of Defense, artificial intelligence (AI) may change the fundamental nature of warfare. The ability to move at machine speed, but incorporate a human in the data processing loop for accuracy and machine learning, is critical to both the high-end fight and low-level conflicts.
The human-machine team must serve together as teammates versus individual contributors.
According to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the biggest challenge that prevents human-machine teaming is the inability of AI to mirror its human counterpart. While a machine that directly replicates a human would undoubtedly serve as an advantage, it may not be necessary, at least for now. Manned-unmanned teaming presents a solution to this complex problem set, as it combines the critical social intelligence of a human, with the processing speed of a machine. Psychologists define the critical thinking of a human through the Theory of Mind (ToM). ToM allows an individual to process information, interpret it, and respond to the behavior accordingly. Without ToM, an AI system may not respond to a situation in the correct way. Combining these two assets together into a team will allow the joint force to get the solutions it needs faster and more efficiently than before. One of the most important aspects of teamwork is building trust. If you don’t trust your teammate to get the job done, it reflects in performance outcomes. By developing and implementing AI now where possible, even in simple administrative tasks, the Department of Defense (DoD) can begin building the ultimate team.
A machine can move faster than a human, but there is no perfect algorithm.
Perfection is virtually unattainable. The human has to be kept in the loop to make judgement calls where needed, and also to help improve the algorithm by giving the system feedback on if it performed correctly or incorrectly. In September 2020, the Pentagon conducted a simulated dogfight between F-16s, and the algorithm won. Despite the victory, there were issues with the system. The system took risks that a human pilot would not and had no awareness of self-preservation (lack of ToM). The DARPA has stated that AI’s role in lethality is to support the human to make a decision, not replace them. DoD policy states that “Weapons systems shall be designed to allow commanders and operators to exercise appropriate levels of human judgment over the use of force.” The faster the machine is able to process data, the faster the human will be able to work. The ethical debate of using machines for lethality in warfare lacks depth, as it is clear that the machine will get the human to a decision-making point, but ultimately, the human will make the call. In a contested environment, speed is everything, and could mean the difference between life and death. The use of AI presents an opportunity to protect the Joint Force when operating in conflict, by reducing decision making time and supporting risk management outcomes.
Teaming will allow the human to manage several machines and extend significant ownership of the battle space.
As the joint force analyzes ways in which AI can be used in daily operations, the most critical aspect of machine learning presents itself in the battlespace. For example, DoD’s long history of successful tactical and operational planning can be rendered into a search engine database for future planners, reducing duplicate efforts. The key aspect of AI is to have large amounts of useful data, and within that, a human capable of understanding its outcomes, and finally, acting on it. AI will also act as a force multiplier, offering pilots the opportunity to control unmanned aerial systems, in addition to their own aircraft. Though it will be years before AI warfighting techniques like swarm control are integrated in the battle space, implementation of MUM-T now will contribute to a competitive advantage in the future. By digitizing DoD and improving information warfare, the joint force is more survivable and resilient to its adversaries.
The nature of warfare is not changing, it has already changed. Manned-unmanned teaming marks a paradigm shift in the way the United States will fight future wars. AI creates the best possible operational advantage, so long as its power is harnessed by the joint force’s greatest assets: people.
