DoD, partners use AI for humanitarian and disaster relief

In August, representatives from the Department of Defense (DoD), the Department of Energy, and Microsoft met virtually to discuss their efforts to develop artificial intelligence (AI) that would help first responders engaged in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts. The goal of this partnership is to mitigate natural disasters by protecting property and lives, including those of first responders.

Acting director of DoD’s Joint Artificial Intelligence Center Nand Mulchandani said that this project, which has been in development for over a year, is important to the department because of the time and manpower DoD devotes to humanitarian assistance and disaster response. 

Cheryl Ingstad, director of the Energy’s AI and technology office, said it was vital that this project take first responders’ needs into consideration when developing AI, and also said that it was important the technology be easy to use and understand. 

According to Susie Adams, Microsoft’s chief federal technology officer, this technology will also be shared with global partners, and will help first responders in the United States and around the world. “AI and machine learning enable solutions never thought possible,” said Adams. “[This project is] about getting data to the right people at the right time as quickly as possible so they can make better-informed decisions.”

For more information about the project, please follow the link below.
DoD Partners With Agencies to Use AI for Disaster, Humanitarian Relief, DoD News