How the Canadian Joint Warfare Centre is utilizing Generative artificial intelligence for organizational tasks

October 10, 2023 - Defence Stories

By: Jennifer Whiteley, Information Management Officer for the CJWC

The Canadian Joint Warfare Centre (CJWC) is pioneering the use of public Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to augment human expertise in a variety of organizational tasks, from strategic planning to content analysis. This experimental approach offers a method to enhance organizational efficiency while maintaining the integrity of human decision-making.

CJWC has focused on using GenAI as a complementary tool for various organizational tasks that have traditionally required extensive human effort and expertise. The aim is not to replace human judgment but to assist in various intricate activities to enhance organizational effectiveness.

Methodology

To understand the impact of GenAI in assisting with organizational tasks, CJWC adopted a hands-on, iterative approach. Rather than using traditional pilot programs or case studies, the methodology focused on the following:

1. Task-by-Task Implementation: Each organizational task was approached individually, with GenAI being implemented in a controlled environment for that specific task.
2. Real-Time Adaptation: Immediate feedback and real-time data were used to refine the GenAI model's effectiveness for each task.
3. Experience-Based Refinement: Adaptations were made based on the hands-on experiences of users directly engaged in the tasks, thereby improving the AI model's output iteratively over time.

Key Findings

1. Strategic Planning: GenAI has been a valuable asset in assisting the organization in strategic foresight, contributing to a more comprehensive capability.
2. Content Analysis: GenAI has been efficient in scrutinizing and summarizing vast amounts of public content and reports, saving time and freeing up human resources for other tasks.
3. Ethical Best Practices and Safe Use: Utilizing GenAI has fostered a culture of safe and responsible use of AI technologies within the organization.
4. Training and Policy Refinement: Experimental use of GenAI, in conjunction with human expertise, has led to unprecedented results in the development and refinement of the unit's AI policy and training plan.

Recommendations

1. Documentation: Document best practices and lessons learned to help scale implementations.
2. Ethical and Safe Use: Continue assessing ethical considerations and safe usage practices. Implement guidelines and checkpoints that specifically address safe usage to ensure GenAI aligns with organizational values, goals, and security measures.
3. Continual Training: Update training courses and guidance to keep the workforce aware of GenAI advancements.

CJWC’s experimental approach to using GenAI as a collaborative tool for augmenting human expertise in organizational tasks has shown promising results. While it's crucial to be aware of the limitations and ethical implications of GenAI, its successful implementation in a variety of tasks illustrates its potential to significantly enhance organizational capabilities. The key to success with GenAI lies in maintaining a balance between human expertise and AI collaboration to shape a future-ready organization.