UK launches new taskforce to accelerate AI delivery

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is launching a new Rapid AI Delivery taskforce (RAID) that will work with the tech sector and SMEs to accelerate the delivery of AI capabilities to the country’s armed forces.  

UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, announced the taskforce on 10 June, stating that it will be empowered to bypass financial and procedural controls for AI capabilities. This is intended to provide “real operational capability in months, not years.” 

The MoD says that the taskforce’s responsibilities will include: 

• Establishing AI systems that enable the rapid processing of intelligence data for decision-making 
• Delivering capabilities that mitigate the effects of denial or degraded environments 
• Using automation to improve planning quality and speed 
• Helping to deliver operational impact using swarms of AI-enabled uncrewed systems  

Crucially, RAID is intended to facilitate a “modular, open-architecture procurement model that avoids vendor lock‑in and supports integration across multiple providers”.  

This approach is designed to minimise the barriers to entry for SMEs that can arise when technology platforms operate on a proprietary system from one company. The MoD says this model will reduce “friction for sovereign SMEs and [match] the patterns/approach of partners and allies”. 

Notably, Rowden – a UK-based engineering SME – will be among the “first wave” of industry partners to support the taskforce.  

The MoD says that it will also establish an AI Expert Advisory Group, comprised of “technical, frontier, ethical and operational delivery experts” to ensure the ethical delivery of AI.  

In addition, the UK Government will work with the US Government to gain access to “frontier” AI models at the cutting-edge of development.