Media: US boosts AI efforts with new leadership, increased funding

The US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is ramping up its efforts in artificial intelligence (AI) over the next year, creating new leadership roles and increasing funding for its computing infrastructure.

The agency, which plays a critical role in transforming data from satellites, radars, and other sources into actionable intelligence for military decision-makers, is prioritising AI to enhance its operations, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

NGA has long been involved in AI development, particularly with its pivotal role in the Department of Defence’s Maven data and image processing system. 

However, this renewed focus seeks to accelerate the agency’s AI capabilities to keep up with growing demands. Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth, the director of NGA, announced this week that he aims to secure more funding for the agency’s AI initiatives and establish new standards and leadership positions to better leverage the technology. Speaking at the Satellite Conference in Washington, Whitworth emphasised the agency’s need for increased funding to support the computing power required for running large-scale AI models.

"We need to ensure that as we get additional models and we run inference on those models that we have the compute needed to do that," he said. Without the proper infrastructure, he warned, the agency's data processing speeds could fall behind, affecting its mission. In addition to computing power, Whitworth highlighted the importance of investing in data labeling—an essential process for training AI models by categorizing and describing raw data.

He also expressed confidence in the ongoing discussions with the Defence Department and the Director of National Intelligence about securing the necessary funding. A key goal for Whitworth this year is to strengthen the leadership structure surrounding AI within NGA. 

The agency has already established two new director positions to oversee AI standards and programmes, as well as an executive director who will lead AI operations. Whitworth also outlined his plans to make progress in creating a standardized government framework for evaluating risks in AI models, building trust between analysts and the AI systems they use, and enhancing the agency’s ability to monitor adversary activities more effectively. With these initiatives, NGA is aiming to ensure that its AI capabilities are fully integrated and robust, allowing it to remain at the forefront of intelligence operations in an increasingly tech-driven world. 

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is a key agency within the US Department of Defense, responsible for providing geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) to support national security and defense operations. Established in 1996, NGA plays a critical role in gathering, analyzing, and distributing geospatial data from various sources, including satellites, aerial imagery, and other sensors. This intelligence is crucial for military decision-making, disaster response, and national security efforts. NGA’s work aids in everything from mapping terrain for military operations to monitoring global events. It also contributes to the US government’s broader intelligence community, offering insights to various agencies and international partners.

By Naila Huseynova