Lockheed Martin has launched a new initiative, “AI Fight Club,” a virtual arena designed to evaluate artificial intelligence algorithms for military applications. Announced on June 3rd by John Clark, Lockheed’s senior vice president of technology and strategic innovation, the program aims to create a digital proving ground for AI across various operational domains, including air, land, sea, and space.
Clark, speaking at an AI conference, highlighted the escalating role of AI in modern warfare. “AI technology is penetrating every aspect of warfare,” he stated, emphasizing the need for a robust testing environment. “That requires us to have a test and evaluation ground so that all of the algorithms, all these new AI inventions that are coming along, that we can test them properly.”
Initially conceived to test Lockheed’s own algorithms, the platform has been expanded to include smaller vendors. Clark explained, “There are many small companies that have great ideas and great AI but they don’t have the capital to support the full test environment and the full ecosystem that underpins it. They can now connect in and tie into our AI Fight Club environment.”
Participants will utilize government-approved models and simulation tools to evaluate their AI in complex, real-world scenarios. Lockheed is ensuring the platform adheres to Department of Defense standards to guarantee results are relevant for national security. “We’re going to be inviting anybody who wants to get their AI up against the government environment with our native test and evaluation setup to determine how well their systems are performing,” Clark noted.
Similar to the 1999 film, intellectual property protection is paramount. “The intent is that what happens inside of that environment will stay within that environment,” Clark assured. However, participants will have opportunities to publish findings and present their research. High-performing participants might even secure contracts with Lockheed Martin, a company with over $70 billion in annual sales and a supplier base receiving roughly 60% of that revenue.
Lockheed views “AI Fight Club” as a critical tool to distinguish between functional technology and mere marketing. “We’re going to use AI Fight Club as a mechanism to help vet those technologies,” Clark stated. Head-to-head AI system matchups, coupled with government observation and feedback, will form the core of the program.
The program’s structure will be finalized within the next three months, with initial competitions expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2024.