On February 19, 2025, Primer hosted a fireside chat at the Army Navy Club with distinguished experts in national security. Primer CEO Sean Moriarty moderated the conversation, which focused on how AI is shaping defense priorities at the midpoint of the decisive decade. The discussion touched on emerging challenges, opportunities for innovation, and the cultural shifts essential for AI adoption in national security.
Turning Data into Decisive Knowledge
Understanding where technologies like artificial intelligence should be applied starts with clearly identifying the problem to solve. The military and intelligence community face the growing challenge of transforming vast data streams into actionable insights—quickly and accurately. As data domains continue to expand—from cyberspace to undersea environments—the ability to process and interpret information in real-time is critical for maintaining strategic advantage.
AI’s primary role is to reduce uncertainty for decision-makers by delivering precise, reliable and transparent insights when they’re needed most. Building on this, leveraging generative AI to streamline administrative processes frees personnel for critical decision-making roles, creating a seamless connection between data analysis and operational action.
Trust, Interoperability, and Affordability: The AI Trifecta
The discussion highlighted how achieving AI success in defense hinges on three critical pillars: trust, interoperability, and affordability. In today’s dynamic environment, trust and interoperability stand out as essential. One major challenge in developing AI-powered intelligence solutions is ensuring accuracy. For AI systems to be effective, operators must trust the data provided, and these systems must function seamlessly across diverse platforms while maintaining security and resilience. Trustworthy AI is central to Primer’s approach. The company developed RAG-V, a verification technique used in the retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) process, which significantly reduces hallucinations, ensuring near-zero inaccuracies.
Affordability also plays a crucial role—not only in terms of initial acquisition but also in long-term sustainment. Balancing trust, interoperability, and affordability leads to scalable, sustainable AI solutions that can adapt to evolving mission requirements.
Breaking Down Barriers and Cultural Shifts: Government-Industry Partnerships
A cultural shift is underway in government-industry relations. The conversation highlighted that adopting innovation goes beyond technology; it requires reshaping mindsets and fostering strong partnerships.
Overcoming institutional risk aversion requires open dialogue and collaboration between government and industry. Consortium solutions and non-competitive collaboration, such as Maven smart system and CRADA (Cooperative Research and Development Agreement), facilitate rapid problem-solving without initial financial commitments. Implementing iterative, agile development processes—where developers and operators work closely together—can accelerate the introduction of technologies that address common challenges and foster solutions that meet shared goals.
Infrastructure: The Backbone of AI Capabilities
While advancements in open-source intelligence and computer vision are promising, the conversation touched on how infrastructure remains a challenge. Robust power, storage, and computing capabilities are vital for processing complex algorithms and scaling AI applications across defense operations.
Looking Ahead: Building a Resilient AI Strategy in Defense
The fireside chat concluded with a call to action: AI-enabled mission success will be defined by bold leadership, strategic partnerships, and cultural transformation. This is more than a technological race—it’s a contest for strategic advantage. Success will be defined by those who plan with precision, adapt with agility, and partner with purpose.
With the right investments, collaborations, and decisive leadership, AI can become the defining force that not only stays ahead of adversaries but also deters emerging threats.
Primer.ai remains committed to supporting defense leaders in navigating the complexities of AI integration. Stay tuned for more insights that shape the future of national security.
