AI in Uniform: US General Uses ChatGPT to Aid Military Command Decisions
Sign of the times or negligent risk? A US general has admitted that he uses ChatGPT for military command tasks. How is AI changing decision-making in the military? The Pentagon is investing billions, but the risks are significant.
AI support for command decisions
Maj. Gen. William “Hank” Taylor, the acting commander of the U.S. 8th Army in South Korea, is using artificial intelligence to support his military leadership responsibilities. The veteran officer, who has served in the U.S. Army for over three decades, discovered ChatGPT as a personal tool to improve his decision-making. “Chat and I have become really close lately,” Taylor said during a media panel at the Association of the United States Army’s annual conference in Washington.
The goal of his AI experiments is to develop models that help him and his soldiers make individual decisions – especially personal decisions that affect the entire organization and its operational readiness. How DefenseScoop reports, Taylor is not using AI technology for combat situations, but for everyday leadership tasks and to analyze sustainability issues. Eighth Army regularly uses AI for predictive supply analysis and weekly intelligence reporting. The U.S. 8th Army, which Taylor commands, is one of the most important military units in the region and plays a central role in the defense of South Korea. With about 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, the unit is an essential part of the American military presence in East Asia.
AI integration in the military
The US military is currently pursuing an aggressive strategy to integrate AI into weapons, aircraft and combat technology. The leadership assumes that future conflicts will occur at “machine speed” and decisions will have to be made in seconds that exceed human capabilities. AI algorithms are already being tested in combat simulations – for example, a modified F-16 jet was controlled by an algorithm through a simulated air battle.
Special forces use AI tools to reduce “cognitive load,” such as for reporting, mission data processing and intelligence analysis. AI The Pentagon is investing billions of dollars in AI research and development. Over $1.8 billion was requested for AI programs for fiscal year 2024 alone. However, the Pentagon also urges caution because generative AI systems can reveal sensitive information or draw erroneous conclusions if the data is incomplete or manipulated. Taylor himself admits that one of the biggest challenges is keeping up with the rapid development of AI tools and ensuring that they meet the military’s strict security requirements.
In addition, AI hallucinations cannot yet be ruled out, so providers and users must act accordingly. The Ministry of Defense has therefore developed specific guidelines for dealing with AI systems, which provide for human monitoring and validation of all AI-generated recommendations. Taylor’s approach shows how the military is adapting to the AI revolution.
