Pentagon must retain control over commercial AI systems used in combat

Admiral Frank Bradley, head of U.S. Special Operations Command, emphasized that troops must be vigilant about integrating artificial intelligence into force delivery, stressing that control over the software is the key concern. The article asserts that the Pentagon will inevitably use commercial AI, so contracts must guarantee the government can halt operations, freeze the last approved model, revert to prior versions, and maintain essential functions if a vendor relationship collapses.

It references the 2022 episode where SpaceX’s coverage decisions impacted a Ukrainian strike, illustrating the risk of relying on private policy judgments during conflict. To prevent such surprises, six contractual rights are proposed, including emergency stop authority, advance notice of changes, and a protected executable package for recovery. The author recommends congressional action to require these clauses and public reporting of any exceptions, arguing that software sovereignty does not demand ownership of code but the four powers to continue, stop, freeze, and recover critical capabilities.