PEO Enterprise hot technology of 2025: artificial intelligence | Article

Looking into the Program Executive Office (PEO) Enterprise crystal ball at the upcoming calendar year, one of the ascending hot technologies is almost certain to be artificial intelligence (AI).

A brief retrospective

In early 2024, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition Logistics and Technology embarked on a 100-day sprint to kick off the ASA(ALT) AI Implementation Plan. By the end of June, Army Chief Information Officer Leonel Garciga had issued guidance on generative AI (GenAI) and large language models, noting that GenAI models presented “unique and exciting opportunities for the Army” due to their potential to “transform mission processes by automating and executing certain tasks with unprecedented speed and efficiency.”

Work also began in earnest to establish Project Linchpin — ASA(ALT)’s flagship program —- as a centralized artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) ecosystem and services provider for all Army programs of record. Once funded in fiscal year (FY) 2026, the program will enable PEOs with AI requirements to leverage Project Linchpin’s ecosystem to ensure security and proper functionality.

Under ASA(ALT)’s current 500-day plan, which kicked off in August, the Army has begun developing an AI Layered Defense Framework to mitigate risks to AI systems and preparing human capital plans to ensure the Army acquisition workforce has the right skills. In the final phase of ASA(ALT)’s AI Implementation Plan, from FY 2026-2030, the Army will start scaling and employing AI/ML ecosystems under Project Linchpin.

Testing the AI waters

Over the past few years, PEO Enterprise has begun dipping its toe into AI — most notably via its Army Vantage program, which uses AI-capable workflows to help users make better decisions, faster. Analytical users of the platform can produce high-resolution dashboards leveraging AI/ML capabilities and collaborate in real time.

More recently, PEO Enterprise’s Acquisition Innovation Directorate has been working with the Army Small Business Innovation Research program to identify ways to use AI/ML technologies to speed up the acquisition process.

Still, PEO Enterprise is very much at the onset of its AI journey, which is part of its broader digital transformation.

“We’ve been on a journey to lay the acquisition foundation for faster integration of technologies like GenAI,” said PEO Enterprise Chief Information Officer Mike Chappell at a speaking event earlier this year. Acknowledging that most of the Army’s early GenAI growth was at the major commands, he said AI/ML technologies are “jumping into our backlogs” for individual programs and enterprise enablement capabilities developed by the CIO directorate’s new Product Lead Innovate organization.

“Eventually, [AI] will get to every layer of the onion from our back-office tools and applications to the capabilities and software we build for our Soldiers,” he said.

Moving forward with AI

Looking ahead to 2025, PEO Enterprise’s top leader foresees a strong need for AI/ML capabilities.

“It’s almost impossible not to do AI now,” Program Executive Officer Bill Hepworth said at PEO Enterprise’s November Forecast to Industry event. “We’re looking into it for assisted acquisition, and there are other ways it could be used across our portfolio.”

Hepworth cited PEO Enterprise’s Army Data Platform — which is planning an industry day in early 2025 — as an example of where AI might be introduced. PEO Enterprise’s defense business systems also might explore ways to leverage AI, according to Defense Integrated Business Systems Project Manager Kevin Curry.

For Chappell, AI capabilities have the potential to benefit several CIO-driven initiatives, including Neighborhood Watch, data mesh and workplace modernization. Important consideration factors for his team will be security/trust and value.

PEO Enterprise leaders agree the upcoming year is an ideal time for potential industry partners to request meetings to talk about the Army’s AI needs and solutions.

“We’re open to your ideas,” said Hepworth.