Tracing the Military Roots of AI and Other Modern Tech Marvels

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Yesterday we celebrated Memorial Day in the U.S., a holiday focused on remembering those whose sacrifices on the battlefield have won us the freedoms we enjoy today. It's also an opportune time to take note of some of the other major benefits we get from the investments and talent of our military.

From the AI-powered digital assistants on our phones to the GPS in our cars, many of the digital systems and tools we use today were developed, funded, or heavily influenced by our investments in defense. Let’s take a look at how the military’s pursuit of innovation has transformed how we live, work, and communicate.

Here are eight key technologies with military roots:

1. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

While AI may seem like a recent breakthrough, research on it has been going on since the 1950s, and the Defense Department was among the pioneers that laid the groundwork for many of the AI applications we use today.

One notable example is Siri, Apple’s famous digital assistant. The technology behind Siri evolved from a defense research project called CALO, which means “soldier’s servant” in Latin. CALO aimed to develop an AI-driven cognitive assistant that could manage information, automate tasks, and learn and adapt as it interacts with users.

The military also supported research and development efforts for image recognition, computer vision, and natural language processing, technologies that are foundational to today’s social media apps, AI chatbots like ChatGPT, self-driving cars, and more.

2. MICROCHIPS

Known as “the chip that changed the world,” the integrated circuit or microchip is a key component of virtually every digital device we have today, from smartphones and pacemakers to industrial robots and spacecraft. It was developed in the 1950s by various semiconductor companies, and one of their first customers was the U.S. Air Force. 

The military needed lightweight, reliable circuits for their missile guidance system, and the demand they helped create facilitated the large-scale production of the microchip. One chip cost $32 in 1961, but thanks to economies of scale, it was reduced to $1.25 by 1971, making the technology more accessible for broader use. 

3. COMPUTERS

Did you know that one of the earliest computers was funded by the military? 

ENIAC, the first general-purpose electronic computer, was built between 1943 and 1945 to calculate artillery firing data, but it was also used for scientific calculations related to weather prediction, atomic energy, wind-tunnel designs, and more. ENIAC’s computational speed was revolutionary for its time; it could complete a calculation in 30 seconds that would take 12 hours with a calculator.

The development of ENIAC proved that it was possible to build a device with massive computing power, an idea that was doubted by many at the time. Inspired by ENIAC’s success, more companies ventured into computing technologies, and as commercial demand increased, computers became cheaper, smaller, faster, and far more powerful. 

It’s astounding to think that the technology behind a military-funded 30-ton computer could eventually evolve to power a 40-gram smartwatch with immensely superior computing abilities.

4. CELLULAR TECHNOLOGY

One the first mobile phone networks, which became the precursor of modern cellular technology, was developed by the U.S. Army in the 1980s. Known as the Mobile Subscriber Equipment (MSE), the network was born out of the military’s need to have a better battlefield communications system that could replace their radio technology.

This new system provided extended range, improved error correction, automated call routing and switching, and even call forwarding. Its signal towers, which worked like the modern cell towers, were mounted on trucks that delivered service to mobile units. First used in Operation Desert Storm in 1991, MSE has since evolved into the seamless networks we know today.

As of 2024, 9-in-10 Americans own a smartphone, and our ability to text, call, and video chat with others directly results from vastly improved cellular technology.

5. THE INTERNET

The Internet we know today began as ARPANET, a military-funded project in the late 1960s that enabled universities, government agencies, and defense contractors to share information. It was the height of the Cold War, and the Defense Department wanted to have a decentralized communications system that could still disseminate information even after a nuclear attack.

The project expanded, and other complementary networks emerged over the next two decades. Computer scientists eventually found a way to make these networks “talk” to each other through a new communications protocol, which became the basis of the modern Internet. 

There are now about 5.44 billion internet users worldwide. This interconnectivity has shaped our digital world and is the backbone of almost all digital transformation initiatives today.

6. GPS

The technology behind the GPS was initially developed in the 1960s to enable the U.S. Navy to track submarines carrying nuclear missiles. It was mainly reserved for military applications until 1983, when President Ronald Reagan authorized the use of GPS technology for commercial airlines to improve air travel safety. 

This was the first step toward broader civilian usage of the GPS, and by 1989, hand-held GPS units became available in the market. As the technology improved and private companies gained access to a more accurate system, use cases across various industries quickly increased. 

GPS technology now powers apps like Google Maps and fitness trackers as well as location-based services like ride-sharing and food delivery. It is used in agriculture, logistics management, mapping and surveying, emergency response, scientific research, and more.

7. DIGITAL CAMERAS

Digital photography can trace a key part of its advancement to the first spy satellite used by the military to take images of enemy assets and installations. 

Launched in 1976, the KH-11 satellite had a camera system that used electro-optical sensors to capture and relay images in real time, similar to the sensors used in modern digital cameras. While private companies like Kodak worked on early versions of the digital camera, the KH-11 camera was the first practical use case outside of a research setting.

Further innovations in digital image sensors paved the way for technologies like DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, and facial recognition.

8. DRONES

Initially used in World War II for target practice during pilot training, drones eventually found more military use cases such as decoys in combat and tools for reconnaissance and surveillance.

Drones entered into civilian usage in 2006 when the Federal Aviation Administration issued the first drone permit for disaster relief operations. Since then, more private firms started working to repurpose military drone technology for commercial use. 

Today, drones have found their way into numerous non-military applications—to help farmers scatter seeds, deliver goods to customers, monitor wildlife populations, and more. They can also be used in media, architecture, construction, and emergency response.

ARE YOU KEEPING PACE WITH INNOVATION?

The transformative technologies discussed above were a result of the military’s relentless drive to innovate and pursue creative solutions to complex problems, an important lesson you can also apply to your organization. 

Our team at FROM specializes in leveraging cutting-edge technologies like AI to solve key business problems and drive real results. We’re here to help you get started. Let’s talk.

YOUR TURN

Which military-driven technology has had the most impact on your business? Share it in the comments below!

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Howard Tiersky is the founder of FROM, The Digital Transformation Agency where he works with leading brands on digital transformation.

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