In modern defense operations, the gap between human decision-making and actionable intelligence has never been more critical.
Operational forces at all levels are inundated with data—from maintenance schedules and supply chains to personnel readiness. Yet, despite the wealth of information, decision-making often remains fragmented and reactive. AI can help close this gap, but only if maintainers and operators trust it enough to use in their daily workflows.
Closing the Operational Trust Gap
AI has already demonstrated its ability to improve mission readiness, streamline logistics, and strengthen decision-making. At the recent Frontiers of AI for Readiness (FAR) Summit, Retired Vice Adm. Collin Green explained that without data-informed decision-making tools, senior leaders struggle to understand the broader strategic implications of the defense industrial base.
“I saw a huge opportunity for AI to enhance the overall readiness and provide a unified readiness picture for senior decision makers,” he said.
Realizing that vision depends on operator trust. In high-stakes missions where accountability rests with humans, tools that feel unclear or unpredictable won’t be used. Building trust requires cultural, technical, and procedural shifts—and it starts with a mindset: AI is not replacing human expertise but extending it.
An Air Force base in Texas shows what this looks like in practice. AI-powered drones now detect debris on runways—work that was previously done manually over thousands of feet of concrete. The result: faster hazard response, greater safety, and increased confidence in both man and machine.
What are 3 Ways to Build AI Trust?
The next frontier of defense readiness depends on how effectively humans and AI learn to operate together. Trust will determine the pace of that progress. That’s why explainability—the ability to show how AI reached its conclusions—is vital to adoption. This was a topic we dove into further in our previous article, 3 Guardrails Every AI Solution Needs to Achieve Mission Readiness.
With explainability as the foundation, AI trust can continue to grow using three methods:
1. Implement AI in Training
AI shouldn’t just appear in simulations—it should help run them. When maintainers and operators interact with AI-driven systems during exercises and wargames, they learn how to interpret, validate, and act on AI insights under realistic conditions.
Scenario-based training and real-world feedback loops help operators interrogate AI outputs, understand anomalies, and build the muscle memory needed for confident, data-driven decisions. As they engage with these systems, operator feedback also strengthens model performance. This creates a cycle of familiarity and trust where AI becomes a teammate, not a tool.
2. Leverage Incremental Deployment
Classroom training alone can’t build trust—AI earns it in action. Incremental deployment, starting with focused, high-impact use cases, is the fastest path to confidence. For example, one of Virtualitics’ law enforcement customers used our AI applications to help identify the right personnel for a time-sensitive mission.
“[Usually] it would take days and then several emails…to find potential candidates,” explained Larry Geddings, Director of Readiness at Virtualitics during the FAR Summit. “We’re able to do it in about five minutes. That means we’re not having to wait for a specific law enforcement capability to show up to either help prevent or mitigate an incident. We’re able to help that customer today deliver essential resources to prevent crime and other law enforcement issues.”
When users see AI consistently delivering accurate, useful recommendations, confidence grows organically. Scaling then becomes a matter of replication and refinement, not reinvention.
3. Leadership’s Role in Driving AI Confidence
Commanders play a crucial role in framing AI as a force multiplier that accelerates data-informed decisions while keeping humans in control.
“I am deeply engaged in how AI is not just a technology, but how AI will become a trusted team member in reshaping how the joint force gains and maintains decision superiority,” said Lt. Gen. Michael Lutton, Deputy Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command.
Sharing success stories—such as predictive maintenance that prevents asset downtime or readiness dashboards that reveal vulnerabilities—helps operators see AI as reliable and indispensable.
Policy and accountability frameworks further reinforce this trust. By clearly defining how AI supports human decision-making, rather than replaces it, organizations establish AI as a partner that strengthens—not threatens—operational judgment.
Turn Trust Into Your Operational Advantage
In the modern battlespace, speed and precision define readiness. AI offers the ability to unify fragmented data into clear, actionable insight, but its true advantage emerges when humans and machines operate as one.
Building operational trust is an ongoing process of transparency, demonstration, and shared success. The organizations that invest in this today will define the standard for decision superiority tomorrow.
To make the key points even easier to reference, we’ve included a brief FAQ section below.
FAQs
1. Why is AI trust such a critical issue in defense operations?
Building trust ensures AI is seen as an extension of human expertise—not a replacement—allowing decision-makers to act faster, with greater confidence and precision.
2. How can training help operators build confidence in AI systems?
When AI is embedded in exercises and wargames—not just as a simulation tool but as a participant—operators gain hands-on experience interpreting and validating its recommendations.
3. What is incremental deployment?
Incremental deployment means introducing AI in small, focused use cases where it can quickly demonstrate measurable results.
4. What role does leadership play in establishing AI trust?
Leadership sets the tone for how AI is perceived and used. Commanders must frame AI as a “force multiplier” that enhances and supports human decision-making.
5. How can defense organizations turn AI trust into an operational advantage?
When AI is trusted, it transforms fragmented data into unified, actionable intelligence—accelerating decision-making and improving mission readiness.
