Artificial intelligence for support activities in the defence sector – a literature review

Artificial intelligence (AI) is about getting machines to exhibit what is commonly considered intelligent behavior. The technology has already shown great potential for efficiency and improvement in a number of organisations, and it is central to digitalisation. This report aims to strengthen the understanding of how the Norwegian defense sector’s support activities may use AI to achieve improvements and efficiency gains. We look at findings and experiences from existing literature to identify i) what is the status of artificial intelligence per 2021, ii) areas of application for artificial intelligence relevant to the support activities, iii) how to proceed when implementing AI systems, iv) what factors contribute to successful implementation and use, and v) what gains the defense sector’s support activities may achieve through the use of AI. Artificial intelligence is used to perform many different tasks, including prediction analysis, text, audio, speech, image and video recognition, knowledge management and intelligent process automation. Tasks that are potentially suitable for the use of AI are found in several areas relevant to the defense sector’s support activities. This report provides examples of applications of AI in HR, finance, administration and mercantile work, strategy and business management, logistics and maintenance, training and education, procurement and project implementation, security and privacy, and help and user support. Based on experience from previous implementations of AI and other IT systems, the literature provides recommendations on how organisations can proceed to implement AI solutions. The recommendations include starting with small and limited projects, piloting and experimentation. To scale up solutions for use throughout the organisation, organisational changes are often required, in addition to building competence and culture for trust in, and use of, AI systems. There are several factors that may influence whether organisations are able to realise gains from the use of AI systems, including strategy, management and other organisational factors, data and technical infrastructure, competence and ethical and legal limitations. This report elaborates on these and several other factors. It also identifies measures organisations may take to mitigate potential challenges and improve the implementation and use of AI systems. Since many organisations have just started to experiment with AI, there is currently little empirical evidence on the gains organisations may achieve from its use. Nevertheless, we can identify several categories of financial and quality gains that may accrue from the use of AI, including automating processes, reducing errors, providing (better) decision-making, and increasing the quality of deliveries. In addition to gains from specific AI solutions that may be used in the short term, increased use of AI today will contribute to enhancing the digital maturity and prepare the defense sector’s support activities to use AI on a larger scale over the next decade.