The hues representing the Five Eye nations, yet presented in a more refined manner.
A legislative proposal in the form of a bill [PDF] has been put forth by two prominent members of the House, mandating closer collaboration between the Pentagon and the United States’ most intimate allies in the realm of artificial intelligence.
On Tuesday, Rep. R-Wis. Mike Gallagher and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services subcommittee on cybersecurity and information technology, jointly introduced the bill. The bill aims to establish and manage an artificial intelligence initiative encompassing the Five Eyes alliance—comprising Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. It directs the Secretary of Defense and the Director of National Security to establish a collaborative working group.
The Five Eyes intelligence-sharing consortium, originating in 1946 among the five allied nations, also addresses intricate technical matters such as spectrum management and space policy. In 2021, the three primary Five Eyes nations—Australia, the UK, and the US—inked the AUKUS pact, focusing on nuclear-powered vessels but encompassing “Track 2” provisions enabling cooperation on cutting-edge technologies like AI.
The proposed legislation does not allocate additional funds but mandates a congressional report. Furthermore, it specifies that “any knowledge or technical data generated by a Five Eyes state under any joint endeavor… may be governed by that state’s export control statutes.” Export controls, notably the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, have historically hindered technological collaboration among allies.
The bill’s progression through a politically divided and tumultuous Congress is likely to benefit from these self-imposed limitations and may potentially be incorporated into the annual National Defense Authorization Act, a requisite legislative measure.
As per a Gallagher aide, the primary aim is to ensure the bill’s functionality rather than setting it up for swift failure. The congressman’s team also sought input from the Pentagon and potential Senate collaborators. “This legislation acts as a catalyst for more substantial transformations.”
While this initial phase merely establishes a task force, it anticipates substantial deliberations on topics like enhancing export regulations, promoting AI ethics, and fostering innovation.
The working group is tasked with specifically “identifying (including through experimentation, testing, and evaluation) potential solutions to enhance and expedite the interoperability of artificial intelligence systems utilized for operational functions related to intelligence sharing, space operations, etc.” In essence, the objective is to progress towards sharing information across the highly automated command-and-control systems of the allies, known as “Combined Joint All-Domain Command & Control” by the Pentagon, rather than solely focusing on technological advancements.
Considering the existing close collaboration among the Five Eyes nations, what value would the Gallagher-Khanna legislation bring? An analyst interviewed by Breaking Defense expressed significant doubt.
James Lewis, a former government official and cybersecurity expert at CSIS, remarked, “I’m uncertain if the legislation propels progress vertically as opposed to horizontally.” This seems akin to Congressional micromanagement since there are already Five Eyes working groups dedicated to emerging technologies. Is it a good concept lacking new resources or experts? Promising in theory, but in need of refinement.
Conversely, other experts, such as the former head of the Joint AI Center at the Pentagon, displayed more optimism.
According to retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Mike Groen, “On its own, it doesn’t really drive a lot of activity.” Nevertheless, he believes it lays the groundwork for enhanced Five Eyes involvement in AI.
Groen conveyed his enthusiasm to Breaking Defense, stating that the bill could facilitate various aspects, including interoperability and data exchange mechanisms, crucial for military operations.
To ensure cohesive operations, Bryan Clark, a former Navy officer and Pentagon strategist at the Hudson Institute, agreed that the Five Eyes nations must ensure compatibility of their AI-enabled systems.
For instance, if allied nations’ AI-driven operations diverge or interfere due to incompatible algorithms or differing assumptions in areas like electronic warfare, they may inadvertently impede each other’s efforts.
In correspondence with Breaking Defense, Clark noted that the bill “establishes a framework for considering the military applications of AI by the Five Eyes countries [and ] highlights some of the challenges.” Given the opacity and unpredictability of machine learning algorithms, the bill’s emphasis on “testing and evaluation” holds particular significance. For instance, algorithms like ChatGPT occasionally provide erroneous responses without apparent cause. Hence, the allies require standardized, dependable methodologies to ensure the functionality and mutual trust in their AI systems.
However, Clark expressed concerns regarding collaboration and the bill itself. While the Five Eyes alliance must progress collectively, it should not tether faster developers to slower ones. Swift advancements in the US could potentially outpace nations within the alliance that are less advanced in implementing AI-enabled systems. Although the bill might lag behind the progress of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), it could help equalize the playing field among the allies.
Arthur Herman, overseeing Hudson’s classical technology initiative, concurred on the necessity to keep pace with—or surpass—the PRC.
Herman highlighted in an email to Breaking Defense, “We are lagging behind China in strategic AI planning, particularly in integrating commercial applications and the Internet securely into regional security strategies.” Given the robust Quantum Information Science (QIS) sectors in all five nations, establishing a working group focusing on integrating quantum technology into AI planning, research, and development could potentially surpass Chinese advancements. Although the bill does not explicitly mention quantum technology, it intertwines with AI initiatives.
Groen echoed that enhanced cooperation among the allies could effectively counter China.
Citing a strategy known as “civil-military fusion,” he emphasized that China, as an authoritarian regime, possesses a comprehensive AI system for warfare due to its centralized control over all components. While the allied nations possess advanced technology and capabilities, they apply them disparately rather than as an integrated system, unlike the Chinese approach.
