{"id":28193,"date":"2017-08-04T14:20:22","date_gmt":"2017-08-04T14:20:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2017\/08\/04\/diux-awards-ai-contract-to-help-air-force-decision-making\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T04:42:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T04:42:38","slug":"diux-awards-ai-contract-to-help-air-force-decision-making","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/pentagon\/2017\/08\/04\/diux-awards-ai-contract-to-help-air-force-decision-making\/","title":{"rendered":"DIUx awards AI contract to help Air Force decision-making"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Correction: This story has been updated to show SparkCognition\u2019s technology for this contract is common to SparkPredict.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The Pentagon\u2019s Silicon Valley branch has awarded Austin, Texas-based artificial intelligence startup SparkCognition the first phase of a contract to provide analysis for U.S. Air Force budgeting procedures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Defense Innovation Unit Experimental, or DIUx, will utilize the 3-year-old company\u2019s AI technology to analyze previously decisions and track their effects at micro and macro levels. Using operational data from the Air Force, an algorithm will aid in the planning, programming, budgeting and execution process, the method by which the Department of Defense allocates funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Technology common to SparkCognition\u2019s product SparkPredict will compete with other companies in the first phase of the contract process. The technology will be used to ingest Air Force data and build a model to aid in decision-making. As the company\u2019s tech moves through subsequent phases, the algorithm will ingest more and more data. The first phase is set to last 60 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIUx, the brainchild of former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, was created in March 2015. It is charged with bridging the gap between the DoD and Silicon Valley. Until recently, DIUx reported directly to the secretary. Although it has so far survived the Pentagon\u2019s restructuring under the Trump administration, it has been significantly downgraded on the department\u2019s new hierarchy. Though that may not be final, a new Pentagon acquisition plan said \u201cfinal reporting relationships will be determined\u201d for several groups, including DIUx.<\/p>\n\n\n\t