MIT and the U.S. Air Force have signed an agreement to launch a new program designed to make fundamental advances in artificial intelligence (AI) that could improve Air Force operations while also addressing broader societal needs.
The effort, known as the MIT-Air Force AI Accelerator, will leverage the expertise and resources of MIT and the Air Force to conduct fundamental research directed at enabling rapid prototyping, scaling, and application of AI algorithms and systems. The AI Accelerator research program will aim to develop new algorithms and systems to assist complex decision-making that might help the Air Force, for example, better focus its maintenance efforts — an expensive and critical part of its aircraft operations. The Air Force plans to invest approximately $15 million per year as it builds upon its five-decade relationship with MIT.
The collaboration is expected to support at least 10 MIT research projects addressing challenges that are important to both the Air Force and society more broadly, such as disaster response and medical readiness. The interdisciplinary collaboration and application of AI technology for a better society and human well-being is also highly promoted and supported by AI World Society (AIWS) and Michael Dukakis Institute for Leadership and Innovation (MDI).