At the recent Defence Information 2024 event, Sam McBriar, Director of Research & Technology & Solution Innovation at Thales UK, shared valuable insights on the role of AI in operational military capabilities. McBriar emphasised the importance of the role of the human in successfully deploying AI, showcasing how human-machine teaming (HMT) is transforming defence operations by enhancing decision-making and operational efficiency.

The Critical Role of Human Factors in AI

1. Trust and Transparency: Building trust between human operators and AI systems is fundamental for effective HMT. Trust is cultivated through transparency and the explainability of AI decision-making processes. Operators must understand how AI systems arrive at their recommendations and decisions, to then trust the information provided. Thales focuses on developing AI-enabled systems that are reliable and transparent, ensuring that operators can rely on these systems in critical situations.
2. Situational Awareness: Maintaining situational awareness is a significant challenge in high-stress environments. AI enhances situational awareness by processing vast amounts of data and providing actionable insights. However, AI systems must support, not replace, human judgment. Thales’ Multi-Domain Mission Support System (MD MSS) has been enhanced with an AI tool that assists users in identifying patterns of interest, thereby improving situational awareness and decision-making.
3. Human-Machine Collaboration: Effective HMT requires seamless collaboration between humans and machines. This means designing AI systems that augment human capabilities without overwhelming operators. Thales employs an iterative testing approach and gathers continuous feedback from users to ensure AI systems are intuitive and supportive, thereby enhancing performance rather than unintentionally hindering it.

Practical Applications and Case Studies

1. Frugal Learning for Situational Awareness: Thales has applied frugal learning algorithms in the MD MSS, helping users improve situational awareness by identifying patterns in huge data sets based on minimal examples of behaviours. This capability is crucial in dynamic operational environments where rapid and accurate decision-making is required.
2. Pathmaster: AI-Assisted Safe and Efficient Autonomous Mine Countermeasures: Thales’ Pathmaster toolkit provides leading-edge capabilities and operational advantages to mine countermeasure (MCM) operations. Utilising AI, Pathmaster significantly increases the coverage rate and accuracy of detecting and classifying sea mines. The system’s autonomous operations enable up to 10 times faster area coverage compared to crewed systems. Pathmaster employs AI for mine detection and classification with tools like MiMap and for the operation of Uncrewed Surface Vehicles (USVs) to improve perception and real-time path planning, ensuring safe and efficient MCM operations.

Lessons Learned and Future Directions

Through its extensive experience, Thales has identified several key lessons:

1. Focus on Human-Machine Teaming: AI systems must be developed clearly focusing on human-machine teaming. Users must be given a voice in the development process to ensure systems meet their needs and integrate effectively into operational workflows.
2. Ethical and Transparent AI: Deploying ethical and transparent AI is crucial for building trust and ensuring responsible use. Thales is committed to developing AI that is understandable, ethical, and aligned with user needs.
3. Continuous Training and Adaptation: Continuous training and adaptation are necessary to maximise AI benefits. This includes educating operators on AI capabilities and limitations and ensuring AI systems can adapt to changing operational conditions.

As AI continues to revolutionise defence capabilities, understanding and integrating human factors are essential for successful human-machine teaming. Thales remains committed to advancing AI in ways that enhance human capabilities and deliver operational benefits.

For more insights and examples of Thales' work in AI, visit the Thales website or connect with Thales on LinkedIn.

By focusing on these critical aspects, Thales aims to lead the way in ethical, practical, and human-centric AI solutions for defence and security.