CENTCOM, UAE Agree to Establish First Bilateral AI Task Force

U.S. Central Command and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to establish the first bilateral task force focused on speeding the development of military artificial intelligence applications, CENTCOM announced July 28.

Task Force Talon Synapse is scheduled to formally launch in the coming weeks and will operate from Abu Dhabi.

Roughly 20 American and Emirati experts in AI, data and cybersecurity will make up the Abu Dhabi team.

Its work will center on AI applications for intelligence support, critical infrastructure protection and monitoring the regional security environment.

Adm. Brad Cooper, the CENTCOM commander, called the agreement a “historic milestone.” He said the partners share a commitment to adopting AI applications and delivering advances quickly to warfighters.

Cooper and UAE National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed possibly forming the task force last year.

During a regional trip last month, CENTCOM officials also held talks with AI industry leaders and Emirati defense officials.