WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Pentagon requested close to $30 billion in fiscal year 2027 for the "AI Arsenal" initiative. This funding would invest in next-generation AI supercomputers and modernize military computing infrastructure.

Pentagon Chief Technology Officer Emil Michael announced this request, which aims to support the Department of Defense's expanding use of artificial intelligence. The department enterprise generative AI platform, GenAI.mil, currently serves 1.5 million personnel.

GenAI.mil was introduced in December to provide department employees with access to commercial AI tools. Google Gemini products were the first AI tools made available within this system. OpenAI ChatGPT and xAI Grok are scheduled for future integration. Michael noted that the system was launched on unclassified networks. There were 80,000 AI users on the platform in December.

The department has created over 100,000 customized AI agents for specific tasks in recent months. Every U.S. combatant command now has access to AI tools. Generative AI tools were employed during Operation Epic Fury against Iran. Target lists for military operations are developed independently of artificial intelligence, according to Michael.

Michael discussed the necessity for specialized cloud environments for classified work. He said such work requires a cloud environment that is air-gapped and protected from other systems. This bespoke cloud is only usable by the department. He also expressed concern that community resistance to data center construction in the U.S. could hinder military AI capabilities when compared to China. Fifty thousand people have signed up for training on the GenAI.mil platform, and a waitlist for this training exists.

No independent assessment of Emil Michael’s claims was available.