This Industry Spotlight is brought to you by CAE.

Written by Dr. Brian Stensrud, PH.D

Technical Researcher, Artificial Intelligence

Defense and security

CAE United States

Executive summary: Recent, revolutionary advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are poised to revolutionize military training. In the training and simulation community, we anticipate that AI technologies applied across the military training ecosystem will improve the quality of future training and reduce the cost and time required to develop and execution. As adversaries close the technology gap, these advancements will be crucial to ensuring our warfighters remain the deadliest and best-prepared in the world.

The modern battlefield demands adaptive and intelligent fighters. AI offers unprecedented potential to revolutionize military training, enabling the development of agile and decisive forces. We are exploring specific applications of AI that will have significant value, including creating enhanced training experiences through curriculum generation, enabling more robust training simulations through AI-generated intelligent agents and Personalization of the warfighter training experience through dynamic adaptation and real-time student assessment.

Training content and programs

An essential element of effective military training is the generation of high-quality content. This encompasses everything from traditional training materials like documentation and tutorials to developing engaging and interactive training exercises. Historically, creating this content has been a resource-intensive process, requiring time and a significant financial investment. Developing immersive and interactive training experiences is particularly expensive, with estimates suggesting up to 700 person hours to produce a single hour of interactive material. This lack of scalability poses a significant barrier to effective and adaptable training programs.

Fortunately, AI has become a powerful tool to address this challenge. This includes developing an optimized curriculum, generating diverse scenario content, and creating comprehensive assessment materials for students. AI-based content generation promises to not only reduce the time and costs associated with content development, but also improve the quality and effectiveness of training materials. By leveraging AI, we can create more robust and impactful training experiences that better prepare warfighters for the complexities of the modern battlefield.

AI-based intelligent agents for simulation-based training

Live/Virtual/Constructive (LVC) simulation is the cornerstone of modern military training, allowing warfighters to rehearse their missions and practice their tactics in realistic, controlled environments. These simulations, particularly at the operational and tactical levels, rely heavily on semi-automated forces to represent various roles. These roles include opposing forces (OPFOR), friendly support elements, and even non-kinetic entities that contribute to a realistic life pattern in the simulated environment.

Traditionally, these roles were filled by human operators or rudimentary AI agents with limited autonomy. Developing intelligent agents capable of engaging in complex, unscripted behavior required considerable effort from skilled knowledge engineers, making the process time-consuming and expensive. However, recent advances in generative AI have transformed this landscape. These advances enable the rapid development and integration of robust intelligent agents capable of imitating human decision-making and behavior. This results in more complex and challenging training exercises with a fraction of the manpower previously required for support and control. By leveraging AI-based agents, we can create dynamic and unpredictable scenarios that push warfighters to adapt and refine their tactics in a truly immersive training environment.

Personalized and adaptive training

One of the most promising applications of AI in military training is the ability to personalize and tailor the learning experience to the individual needs of warfighters. This involves dynamically modifying the training program and providing in-situ coaching during exercises, based on real-time performance and skills assessments. AI algorithms can continuously monitor student progress, identify knowledge gaps, and adjust training accordingly. This may involve modifying task complexity, providing targeted feedback and corrective action, or suggesting alternative learning resources.

This approach reflects the success of adaptive learning techniques in K-12 education, where personalized learning journeys and AI-powered feedback mechanisms have significantly improved student outcomes and engagement. By applying similar principles to military training, we can ensure that every warfighter receives the individualized instruction and support needed to master essential skills and knowledge. AI allows us to go beyond the one-size-fits-all approach to training and create a more effective learning environment that is more tailored to the unique needs of each individual.

Discussion

It is essential to remember that artificial intelligence is not a single technology but a diverse field encompassing a wide range of techniques and approaches. AI is currently experiencing a renaissance driven by powerful new methods and fueled by significant advances in hardware performance. Developing the AI ​​solutions described in this article requires expertise across multiple disciplines, including computer science, cognitive psychology, and educational theory. Additionally, the successful application of AI in military training depends on the careful selection and implementation of the right AI tools for the right tasks. Each training challenge requires a unique approach, and understanding the strengths and limitations of different AI techniques is essential to optimize training results.

The last five years have seen the most rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technologies since the term was coined. Although many of the most notable implementations have taken place in the commercial sector, we anticipate a rapid increase in the use of AI to support military training in the coming years, particularly in areas implemented evident in this article. As our adversaries close the technology gap that the United States has historically benefited from, it is more critical than ever to improve the speed and quality of our training programs. AI-driven capabilities offer a powerful solution, and the time for exploration is over. We must embrace these tools and harness their full potential to ensure our warfighters remain the best trained and equipped in the world.