The Department of Defense’s inspector general has launched a new evaluation of the Replicator program, which aims to field and deploy thousands of autonomous drones by 2025 to contend with China. A memorandum issued Monday solidifies plans for the review. An OIG spokesperson stated that the evaluation will determine the effectiveness of the Services and Defense Innovation Unit in selecting capabilities for the Replicator Initiative to meet U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s operational needs. Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks launched Replicator last summer to accelerate the adoption of “attritable autonomous systems” within 18 to 24 months. The Pentagon has secured $500 million for fiscal 2024 and is requesting an additional $500 million for fiscal 2025. Initial systems include kamikaze drones, unmanned surface vessels, and counter-drone systems. The OIG may revise or expand the objective as the assessment proceeds, and a Pentagon spokesperson confirmed full cooperation to ensure accountability.

In other news, the Department of Commerce and its National Telecommunications and Information Administration issued a new report recommending that the U.S. government monitor risks from open AI foundation models and be prepared to act if those risks intensify. The report, shared with FedScoop ahead of its official publication, analyzes the risks and benefits of dual-use foundation models with widely available model weights. While NTIA highlighted benefits such as diversifying AI research and decentralizing control of the AI market, it also noted potential risks to national security, privacy, and civil rights. The report concludes that there is not enough evidence to warrant restrictions on open-weight models at this time but recommends collecting and evaluating evidence to inform future actions. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo emphasized that the report provides a roadmap for responsible AI innovation and American leadership. The report suggests that the government may need to develop benchmarks, maintain federal expert capabilities, and potentially restrict access to models if necessary, but stresses that monitoring and evaluation should come first.

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