Bruce Swett, PhD

Bruce Swett is the Chief Artificial Intelligence Architect within the Mission Systems sector of Northrop Grumman, a leading global provider of security systems and solutions. In this role, he is responsible for the design and implementation of integrated cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities across the enterprise. This capability dramatically increases the speed of innovation from Northrop Grumman’s commercial and academic partners to fieldable systems. Swett serves as a subject matter expert and consultant in the areas of AI, brain-computer interfaces, and robotics – both nationally and internationally. He recently served on the Pontifical Academy of Science, advising Pope Francis on AI and robotic technologies. He has created intellectual property and patent applications on seven topics related to neurally-inspired AI. Swett completed his Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Cognitive Sciences at the University of Maryland College Park, and completed his Post-Doctoral studies at the National Institute of Deafness and Communications Disorders at the National Institutes of Health. His experimental and computational research focused on using high performance computing to understand how the brain learns and automates sequences, a topic that applies to novel forms of AI. Northrop Grumman solves the toughest problems in space, aeronautics, defense and cyberspace to meet the ever-evolving needs of our customers worldwide. Our 90,000 employees define possible every day using science, technology and engineering to create and deliver advanced systems, products and services.

ABSTRACT

Commercial Artificial Intelligence Technologies and the Future of Warfare

Recent research on Artificial Intelligence (AI) has demonstrated super-human performance on increasingly complex games within constrained, simulated environments. These rapid advances in AI capability have implications for the future of warfare, including increasing the speed and scale of battle, as well as changing the roles of humans and machines. Creating decisive advantage for U.S. and Coalition partners using AI is problematic, given the global availability of AI hardware and software technologies, and the relatively low barrier to entry for AI. There are also significant technical challenges in applying AI technologies to the battlefield that are not present for commercial AI developers, an military AI software has vulnerabilities beyond non-AI software. In an adversarial environment, the ethical use, safety, security, robustness, and operational effectiveness of U.S. military AI must be assured. AI models that are used for information analysis and autonomous behaviors in the environment need to be retrained and updated frequently, necessitating a military AI ecosystem for algorithm and model management and assurance. And, because military engagements are bound by U.S. law and policy, having accountability and governance capabilities for military AI is critical. Framing the operational needs to transitioning commercial AI technology for military use will provide a framework for ethical and responsible use of AI on the future battlefied.