The Pentagon's new AI playbook treats slow adoption as a bigger risk than "imperfect alignment"

The Department of the Navy, led by Acting Secretary Hung Cao, has approved a new strategy to accelerate AI and data adoption, aiming to build an "AI-first" fleet and outpace adversaries. The plan introduces the "Bits2Effects Cycle" to reduce decision-making time, with key milestones set for 2026 and 2029, and prioritizes speed over "imperfect alignment" in wartime scenarios. The strategy aligns with broader U.S. military AI efforts, including 1.5 million daily GenAI.mil users, while global competitors like China and NATO also expand military AI capabilities.