CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii — Senior leaders from the U.S. military and technology sector convened at the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command AI Summit, February 23-24, to advance the integration of artificial intelligence into joint military operations. The summit was designed to improve progress established since the 2025 AI Summit and address ongoing challenges accelerating artificial intelligence capabilities. Participants moved beyond theoretical discussions to focus on forging partnerships aimed at developing and deploying AI-driven solutions.
The summit centered on three core challenges: applying AI to warfighting functions, building resilient infrastructure, and ensuring access to high-quality data. Participants explored how to adapt commercial AI to accelerate military decision-making, design distributed data and network infrastructure for contested environments and implement effective data governance.
A key enabler for integrating these advanced technologies into training and joint exercises is the USINDOPACOM J7 Pacific Multi-Domain Training and Experimentation Capability. As the innovation engine for J7, PMTEC provides the digital architecture and experimentation environment necessary to test, validate, and scale AI solutions across the joint force.
An AI primer event was held a week before the AI Summit at the federally funded research and development center, MITRE Honolulu. The event was designed to help joint force leaders transform data into actionable decisions across complex, contested, and dynamic operational environments, and move from AI readiness to an AI dominance posture.
“AI integration is not a future concept but a present reality,” said PMTEC Experimentation Integrator Mary Ann Swendsen. “We’ve demonstrated this in military exercises across the Indo-Pacific, testing new technologies and refining concepts for operational use.”
"The AI Summit is a critical step in operationalizing our strategies," said Swendsen. "Through the J7 and PMTEC, we are building a persistent training ecosystem where we can take the prioritized AI capabilities from this summit and immediately apply them.
According to the AI Summit Executive Summary, the Secretary of War’s AI strategy states unequivocally that speed wins.
“Future conflicts will be decided by the side that can develop, deploy, and adapt algorithms fastest,” read the executive brief.
The summit prioritized engineering, manufacturing, and infrastructure improvements, including aligning efforts on "pace-setting projects". These projects support the Department of War’s AI strategy of identifying critical barriers for action and working with industry to deliver solutions and integration support to the joint warfighting functions.
About PMTEC: Established in 2022, the Pacific Multi-Domain Training and Experimentation Capability is a U.S. Indo-Pacific Command initiative that enhances joint, combined, and coalition warfighting readiness in the Indo-Pacific. PMTEC has developed and continues to enhance the world’s largest fully instrumented coalition range system, linking geographically dispersed ranges, training areas, and warfighters across the Indo-Pacific theater and beyond. A cornerstone of the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, PMTEC aligns with U.S. National Security and U.S. National Defense strategies—strengthening homeland defense, empowering allies and partners, and delivering deterrence against emerging threats. By integrating advanced technologies, PMTEC drives military modernization, fosters innovation, and drives U.S. and allied forces’ technological superiority and asymmetric advantage over adversaries.