After revealing that the department is developing a ‘productivity portfolio’ of possible generative AI use cases, ministers have pointed to a range of potential civil service and Armed Forces deployments

The Ministry of Defence is exploring an array of potential uses of artificial intelligence, covering both departmental operations and military deployment, ministers have claimed.

Maria Eagle, the minister for defence procurement and industry, last month revealed that the MoD was working on the creation of a ‘productivity portfolio’ to identify and track possible use cases of emerging technology. Eagle yesterday expanded on these plans, by outlining a wide variety of potential areas in which the ministry is “actively leveraging machine learning and AI to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness across both the Armed Forces and the department”.

“In the business space, MoD is exploring use of informational chatbots, machine learning applications and generative AI to automate and accelerate routine business operations and policy work,” the minister added. “We work closely with partners across government to identify and apply best practice and understand where these tools can support workforce efficiencies.”

In addition to these possible civil service uses, the ministry is also considering AI in the context of “a range of military applications”.

Related content

• AI is ‘not a panacea’ to improve productivity, minister says
• Ministers ask biggest regulators to set out ‘strategic approach to AI’
• Ministry of Defence signs IBM to £30m deal to support civilian IT systems

Eagle said: “[This includes] helping to accelerate operational tempo; strengthening the Force through greater mass, persistence, and reach; enabling us to operate in environments that would otherwise not be possible; removing our people from harm’s way; and making our workforce more effective.”

The minister’s comments were made in response to a written parliamentary question from Conservative MP David Reed.

Eagle has previously indicated that the MoD’s explorations of AI and other emerging tools is supported and informed by  “a range of resources, published on GOV.UK, to inform our AI and data usage, [such as] the Generative AI Framework, the Data Maturity Assessment, the Ethics, Transparency and Accountability Framework, and the Data Ethics Framework,” as well as drawing on expertise from the digital centre of government in the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology.

A wider plan announced by the government six weeks ago is intended to deliver “the biggest reform of the Ministry of Defence in over 50 years”. This transformation strategy includes ambitions to promote better and more innovative use of digital and data across the department.