The Pentagon’s AI Gamble: Can Automation Save U.S. Weapons Testing?

Former Director of the Office of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) at the Department of Defense, Doug Schmidt, unpacks one of the most pressing challenges in national security: the future of weapons testing in a rapidly evolving, tech-driven military landscape. Schmidt lends his insider perspective on the implications of a new directive from the Secretary of Defense —one that dramatically reshapes DOT&E with a leaner workforce and increased emphasis on automation and artificial intelligence.

Listeners will gain a rare glimpse into the high-stakes tension between innovation and oversight, as Schmidt discusses the difficulties of testing emerging, low-cost, rapid-deployment systems from non-traditional defense contractors. He raises critical concerns about integration, validation, and maintaining operational realism in testing environments—especially as staff and institutional memory are diminished. Schmidt also explores how automation and AI, while promising, still require substantial R&D investment before they can reliably replace the human expertise essential to effective testing.

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