Department of War’s Emil Michael on the tech shift redefining U.S. military power

Emil Michael, Undersecretary for Research & Engineering and Chief Technology Officer at the Department of War, discussed the transformative impact of emerging technologies on military systems over the next few years. He highlighted the need to modernize from Cold War-era and counter-terrorism technologies to address current threats, particularly from a rising China. Michael also emphasized the importance of leveraging vast amounts of data collected by the department, including satellite imagery and sensor data, to enhance decision-making through AI and cloud computing. The goal is to break down data silos, train AI models and improve operational efficiency.