CDAO
Also written: Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office
The Department of Defense's office for digital and AI strategy.
The Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office, or CDAO, is part of the US Department of Defense. Its job is to guide how the military uses digital technology and artificial intelligence.
Think of it like the Pentagon's chief technology officer. CDAO helps the military adopt new AI tools and manage its vast digital information systems securely and effectively.
The Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) is a component of the United States Department of Defense responsible for accelerating the adoption of data analytics and artificial intelligence across the department. It aims to unify and advance the DoD's digital capabilities, including AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity.
CDAO's work involves setting policy, developing strategies, and overseeing the implementation of digital transformation initiatives. This includes ensuring responsible AI development and deployment within military operations and research.
The Department of Defense is increasingly integrating advanced AI technologies into its operations, as seen with OpenAI's ChatGPT deployment on GenAI.mil. The CDAO plays a central role in overseeing and enabling these critical digital and AI advancements within the military.
- Bringing ChatGPT to GenAI.milOpenAI · OpenAI News ·
- OpenAI ChatGPT
- OpenAI's ChatGPT is being deployed on the Department of Defense's secure GenAI.mil platform, indicating a direct use case for CDAO's focus on military AI integration.
The CDAO was established in 2019 as part of a broader effort to modernize the Department of Defense's technological infrastructure and capabilities. It consolidated various digital and AI-related functions under a single office. Source ↗
While you cannot directly interact with CDAO, you can explore how AI is used in defense by researching public reports on military AI applications. Look for news articles or official statements about AI projects in areas like logistics, intelligence analysis, or autonomous systems.
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Questions people ask
- What is the main goal of CDAO?
- The main goal of CDAO is to accelerate the adoption of digital technologies and artificial intelligence across the Department of Defense, ensuring modernization and readiness.
- How does CDAO relate to AI development?
- CDAO sets policies and strategies for developing and deploying AI within the DoD, focusing on responsible use and integration into military operations.
First seen on Subvolts Feb 9, 2026. Updated Sep 15, 2026. Written by an AI model from the items above and reviewed against them weekly; report an error.

