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Clearing the Pathway for AI Cultivation

Public sector officials in the AI and technology realms highlight three major issues blocking the development and integration of the novel capability.

Lt. Col. Andy Ziskin, senior data scientist at the Artificial Intelligence Integration Center, speaks at AFCEA NOVA Army IT Day 2026 held in McLean, Virginia.

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly crucial to military operations and winning the future fight, it is imperative that defense personnel identify and address factors that are preventing autonomous systems from reaching their optimal potential. Three individuals from the AI and technology spaces each underscored one challenge they are facing.

Firstly, they are experiencing a networking problem, said Gabe Chiulli, chief technology officer of the U.S. Army's Enterprise Cloud Management Agency. Defense officials have found it demanding to develop networks that are different from the rest of the commercial world.

Furthermore, the data collection process needs improvement. These systems are only as effective as the data they receive, so injecting a plethora of certified information into the capabilities is essential.

“Identifying the things we want to answer and having a plan to collect information is extremely important,” said Lt. Col. Andy Ziskin, senior data scientist at the Army Artificial Intelligence Integration Center, during a panel discussion at AFCEA NOVA Army IT Day 2026, held in McLean, Virginia.

“The things that we would like to model, in many cases, the data doesn’t exist,” Ziskin added.

Lastly, the human element has hindered their ability to fully foster AI, according to Delester Brown Jr., chief data officer and chief AI officer at the Army National Guard Bureau.

Overcoming these obstacles is crucial in the journey of propelling AI forward and gaining the upper hand in the space over adversaries, with the ultimate goal of winning the future fight, the officials emphasized.