AI/ML is already used worldwide in programming and malware development; is it possible harness this capability to rapidly develop applications and scripts that aid cybers operators to perform offensive/defensive operations. Also, what legal and ethical considerations (human in the loop, bias, etc.) exist when integrating AI/ML into the development process. Finally, what process and technical controls should be implemented to maintain positive control over the application and effects generated by its use.
Use of AI/ML to aide cyber operators must be considered to assist them perform complicated tasks on demand and at scale in rapidly changing environments. An AI/ML solution with access to a wide variety of information would provide a more comprehensive assessment of the problem than a human and render a list of possible solutions and rationales that cyber operators could consider for action. For example, this AI/ML assisted weaponeering and apportionment could provide operators probabilities of success, alternate/supplemental actions, and recommended actions. It could also simplify or possibly automate capability pairing and battle damage assessment (BDA) actions through target identification based on stated objectives; physical, functional, and target system critical target nodes assessments, assess weapon effectiveness (Offensive) or vulnerability of critical infrastructure (defensive), and establish indicators of non-kinetic success or inflection points for defensive action.
- Banner, Maj. Jeffery A., "Hunt Forward Operations as a Diplomatic Arm of the United States," AF Fellow Op-Ed (University of Texas, San Antonio, Cyber Warfare), 2025, 3 pgs.
- Banner's 2025 Defense Fellow research directly tackles this possibility. Working alongside DoD and academic institutions, his research focuses on automating cyber vulnerability analysis by incorporating artificial intelligence to create "proof of concept exploits and defensive alerts." He notes that this AI integration is designed specifically to better support the capabilities of both offensive and defensive U.S. cyber operators.
- Pantaleon, Maj. Bridget, "Are We Prepared for When Artificial Intelligence Costs Innocent Lives?" AF Fellows paper, 2023, 3 pgs.
- Sturtevant, Capt. Chelsey, "AI-HyperCal: In-Scene Hyperspectral Imagery Calibration Using AI Known-Point Identification," SOS AUAR, 2021, 11 pgs.