UK launches new AI industry “front door”

To help inform future experimentations, competitions, and other industry engagements, the UK has launched a new “front door” portal for organisations to share AI-focused concepts and technologies. 

According to an announcement from the UK Ministry of Defence on 25 August, the front door falls under the remit of the Rapid AI Delivery Taskforce (TF RAID), which was launched in June. TF RAID aims to accelerate the delivery of AI capabilities for the UK military by collaborating with the tech sector and SMEs.  

The defence ministry says that the new TF RAID Industry Front Door is intended “solely” to support engagement with the defence sector and the exchange of ideas. It will not be directly involved with procurements, request for proposals, or other commercial activities.  

The new TF RAID Industry Front Door follows the launch of NATO’s Front Door for Industry in July, although this portal does include procurement opportunities, innovation support mechanisms, and events.  

What are the goals of TF RAID?  

As part of the industry front door and beyond, the defence ministry says that TF RAID is focused on four challenge areas, which are:   

• Using AI to support intelligence analysis and decision making
• Integrating and exploiting information from multiple sources to better understand operational environments  
• Applying AI to improve the speed, quality and adaptability of planning
• Exploring how autonomous and uncrewed capabilities can increase operational effectiveness  

To support the adoption of AI across the sector, the defence ministry says that the taskforce has “exemptions from standard financial and procedural controls”.