DARPA To Fund New AI Concepts With Millions

WALTHAM, MA - FEBRUARY 3: A BigDog robot at Boston Dynamics was backed by DARPA. (Photo by Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in the US has announced plans to fund a series of new artificial intelligence (AI) research projects with millions of dollars. 

The agency's new "Artificial Intelligence Exploration (AIE) program" is designed to get capital to AI researchers that need it quickly. AIE awards may be worth up to $1 million each. 

"DARPA has established a streamlined process to push the state of the art in AI through regular and relatively short-term technology development projects," said Peter Highnam, DARPA deputy director, in a statement.

"The intent is to get researchers on contract quickly to test the value and feasibility of innovative concepts. Where we're successful, individual projects could lead to larger research and development programs spurring major AI breakthroughs."

DARPA said funding will be given to researchers within three months of a funding opportunity showing up. The agency hopes to be able to tell if a project is feasible within 18 months of awarding the contract. 

The fact that DARPA, which helped to fund the development of Boston Dynamics' well-known BigDog robot, is investing in AI is somewhat controversial, given the agency is responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military. 

Recent advancements in AI mean that autonomous tanks, drones, missiles, and machine guns aren't beyond the realms of possibility.

Business leaders such as Elon Musk and DeepMind's Demis Hassabis last week promised to never develop lethal AI weapons when they signed a pledge.

The pledge reads: "We the undersigned agree that the decision to take a human life should never be delegated to a machine. It goes on to warn "lethal autonomous weapons, selecting and engaging targets without human intervention, would be dangerously destabilizing for every country and individual."




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