The department has designated AI as a top area for modernization. Image: motionVectors/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffIn a recommendation on an issue of growing importance government-wide, the GAO has recommended that the Defense Department more thoroughly plan how it is going to acquire and use artificial intelligence capabilities.
The department has designated AI as a top area for modernization for uses such as identifying threats or potential targets on a battlefield, GAO said, “and is allocating considerable spending to develop AI tools and capabilities.”
“Although numerous entities across DoD are acquiring, developing, or already using AI, DoD has not issued department-wide guidance for how its components should approach acquiring AI. DoD is in the process of planning to develop such guidance, but it has not defined concrete plans and has no timeline to do so. The military services also lack AI acquisition-specific guidance, though military officials noted that such guidance would be helpful to navigate the AI acquisition process,” says a report ordered by Congress.
In a review of private sector practices on acquiring and using AI, GAO found that key practices include: analyze the problem to decide whether AI is the appropriate solution; justify a proposed AI solution including having suitable and clean data available; protect access to data and systems and consider intellectual property concerns; tolerate failure, try a technology before buying and conduct oversight of performance; and forecast future AI capabilities that may be of value.
It added that some DoD components have individually developed or plan to develop their own informal AI acquisition resources but that department-wide guidance is needed, it said.
The GAO said that DoD concurred with its recommendations for such a policy.
Senate Eyes Vote to Pay Federal Employees Working Unpaid
Series of Bills Offered to Address Shutdown’s Impact on Employees
Public Starting to Feel Impact of Shutdown, Survey Shows
OPM Details Coverage Changes, Plan Dropouts for FEHB/PSHB in 2026
Does My FEHB/PSHB Plan Stack Up? Here’s How to Tell
2025 TSP Rollercoaster and the G Fund Merry-go-Round
See also,
TSP Takes Step toward Upcoming In-Plan Roth Conversions
5 Steps to Protect Your Federal Job During the Shutdown
Over 30K TSP Accounts Have Crossed the Million Mark in 2025
