GDIT’s Amy Gilliland Champions AI to Empower Workforce

In a recent media roundtable, Amy Gilliland, president of General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), expressed her optimism about the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace. While skepticism exists regarding the immediate benefits of AI technologies, particularly generative AI, Gilliland emphasized that GDIT views these tools as a means to enhance employee capabilities rather than replace them.

GDIT has already implemented AI solutions to assist employees in finding new job opportunities within the company. Gilliland highlighted that the organization is exploring AI’s potential for automating tasks such as writing code and processing proposals. This approach aligns with GDIT’s vision of leveraging AI to streamline operations and improve efficiency.

A Shift in Perspective on AI Investments

Addressing concerns raised by a recent MIT study, which found that 95 percent of companies surveyed reported “zero return” on their investments in generative AI as of June 2023, Gilliland argued that it is premature to apply traditional metrics of “return on investment” to the evolving landscape of AI. “It’s early days,” she stated, underscoring that the current focus should be on education and understanding the practical applications of AI technologies.

Gilliland explained, “When you’re talking about ‘return on investment,’ my investment right now is really about tailoring Large Language Models to my environment and figuring out use cases and how to apply them.” She noted a significant increase in employee engagement with AI training, indicating that GDIT anticipates a tenfold rise in the number of AI training courses completed by 2025 compared to last year.

Employees have shown enthusiasm for using AI to handle routine coding tasks, allowing them to concentrate on more complex and intellectually stimulating work. “They don’t want to eat the broccoli, they just want to have dessert,” she quipped, illustrating her point about the appeal of AI in reducing mundane workloads.

Enhancing Proposal Processes and Internal Mobility

Gilliland also highlighted the potential of AI to streamline the proposal process. With GDIT bidding on over a thousand opportunities annually, AI can facilitate the initial stages of proposal drafting by quickly identifying key points in extensive government documents. “Some human will probably touch every page of that,” she acknowledged, but emphasized that AI can significantly expedite the process.

Moreover, GDIT has introduced an AI-based tool for “internal mobility,” designed to match employees with new roles or short-term assignments within the company. These temporary positions can range from “six days to six weeks,” enabling employees to contribute to different projects while gaining diverse experience.

The roundtable event coincided with the unveiling of GDIT’s new “Mission Emerge Center” located just outside Washington, D.C. This 5,000-square-foot facility serves as a demonstration space for AI technologies, where GDIT executives can showcase innovations to potential government clients. Visitors to the center can engage with AI capabilities, including surveillance video analysis and geospatial intelligence tools, all within unclassified environments.

Gilliland pointed out that the proximity to the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA), a major customer of GDIT, enhances collaboration opportunities. With advancements in technology, Gilliland noted a shift in how quickly military and intelligence clients are looking to implement new solutions. She remarked, “It’s like, ‘hey, I’d like to have you back here in six weeks from now, because I want to do Agile sprints and see how this is working and evolving.’”

This new pace of innovation reflects a broader shift in the defense sector, where rapid adaptation is becoming increasingly essential. Gilliland drew parallels to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where military forces are leveraging technology in dynamic ways. “We’re watching pretty scrappy Ukrainian troops figure out how to use technology in new and different ways … in real time,” she noted.

GDIT is positioning itself to meet the evolving demands of its clients by embracing AI and fostering an environment for continuous technological advancement. As Gilliland aptly put it, “We have to upgrade our technology much faster, in weeks or days instead of months and years.” This commitment to agility marks a significant change from traditional practices, paving the way for a more responsive approach to defense technology integration.