ChinaTalk The Pentagon’s Innovation Insurgents
Aug 6, 2024
Chris Kirchhoff, a founding member of the Defense Innovation Unit and former Obama NSC member, shares insights on revolutionizing military practices. He reveals the DIU's struggle against bureaucracy and its strategic pivot towards emerging technologies. Kirchhoff discusses the necessity of reallocating defense spending to innovative tech companies and draws parallels with commercial advancements in space. He also warns of potential pitfalls in AI governance, advocating for a proactive approach to ensure national security amidst rapid technological change.
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Dempsey's Ride
- General Dempsey's "campaign of learning" led him to a Google X self-driving car demo.
- His ride and subsequent question about the cost of the hardware sparked a realization about the coming military impact of microelectronics.
Scale Mismatch
- The current push to integrate Silicon Valley tech with the military isn't new, but the scale of the commercial market is unprecedented.
- The $25 trillion commercial tech market dwarfs the defense market, necessitating a shift in DoD strategy.
Fast Follower
- Ash Carter anticipated the growing commercial tech sector would outpace the defense industry.
- He advocated for DoD to become a fast follower, leveraging commercial advancements rather than leading development.
