Department of War Expands AI Access

During a recent event hosted by Breitbart News, Under Secretary of War Emil Michael shared that the Department of War has significantly increased access to artificial intelligence (AI) as part of its strategy to enhance AI capabilities. Approximately 1.7 million personnel are now employing this technology for various functions including enterprise, intelligence, and military operations.

In a discussion led by Breitbart News Washington Bureau Chief Matt Boyle, Michael addressed the AI acceleration strategy initiated in January and its current status. He noted that the fast-paced adoption of AI in consumer applications was not mirrored within the department. “Most of you here probably have some AI apps on your phones, right? But we had fewer than 70,000 people in our department using it for basic business tasks, despite being a three-and-a-half million strong workforce,” he remarked.

Michael elaborated, explaining the accessibility issue that previously hindered AI use. “It wasn’t readily available. People were using it in their personal lives but not for work purposes,” he said. He emphasized the need to make AI accessible across various departmental functions, due to its size and complex structure.

“We have numerous reasons to utilize AI. We are essentially the largest bureaucracy globally. Thus, we found ways to integrate AI into everyday tools—desktops and phones—for business efficiencies, intelligence gathering, and military applications,” he stated.

The uptake of AI within the department has seen substantial growth in recent months, according to Michael. “In just the last six to eight months, we’ve seen 1.7 million individuals start using AI, which is a remarkable change in a short span,” he noted. “This was our initial step: to get it into people’s hands and allow them to experience how it can enhance their job performance.”

Looking ahead, Michael mentioned that the focus is now on deepening the use of AI for military and intelligence purposes. “We are in the process of helping personnel learn to apply AI in areas like conflict management and real-time intelligence synthesis to improve national security and operational success,” he explained.

Boyle sought clarity on GenAI.mil, including its current implementation status and how best to communicate its purpose to a wider audience. Michael reflected on the limited AI capabilities inherited from the previous administration, indicating that the new directive was to broaden the initiative significantly.

He described GenAI.mil as a centralized platform that allows personnel to access various AI models tailored for use within the Department of War, including those that manage classified information. “It’s basically a dedicated online resource within the Department of War that accounts for our unique security requirements,” he added.

Michael noted that the platform currently incorporates Google Gemini and plans to integrate additional AI models soon. “We’ve got Google Gemini, and we’re also set to include Grok from SpaceX and ChatGPT from OpenAI soon. This setup allows personnel to choose the best model for their needs, serving as our gateway to advanced AI technologies,” he concluded.