The arena will act as a single platform for suppliers to test and demonstrate their AI solutions to the MoD. 

The UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Defence AI Centre (DAIC) is launching a new ‘AI Model Arena’, to rapidly increase the pace at which it evaluates and procures AI technologies. 

UK-based AI company, Advai, is partnering with DAIC to develop the platform by mid-March next year, an MoD statement revealed on 10 November.  

Advai has previously worked with the Royal Navy to test AI models side-by-side, and partnered with the AI Safety Institute, to “break your AI in the lab, so it doesn't break in the real world”. 

Using this experience, Advai will help develop a standardised platform that will act as a secure environment through which various AI models from companies can be tested and demonstrated in relation to MoD requirements.  

The statement says that the arena will benefit small businesses, using “vendor-neutral” processes to create a “level playing field”. 

When asked to clarify what this could mean in practice, an MoD Spokesperson told DSEI Gateway that "every supplier is given access to the same problem and opportunity and assessed, automatically, against the same criteria". The results would then "inform potential exploitation routes for those suppliers who perform well".

The MoD believes this approach will provide "a 'front door' so SME's can quickly show how effectively their solutions can solve any of the problems outlined by the Ministry of Defence", the spokesperson added.

This will involve testing their AI models either using open source training data, or data provided by the MoD.

The statement also says that the platform will enhance MoD collaboration with industry partners on AI and minimise existing barriers to innovation. 

It is hoped that this approach will highlight promising solutions for defence use cases, with DAIC looking to promote the best of these among existing innovation pathways, like the Defence Tech Scaler. 

Additionally, the arena is expected to cut down procurement times significantly, with capacity to test “up to 100 models” at the same time, according to the notice. 

The DAIC will use the platform to provide feedback to suppliers based on their overall performance, reliability, robustness, and security, allowing them the opportunity to iterate their AI solutions.  

It also states that these solutions will be downselected in various phases.  

Championing the arena, Head of DAIC, Commodore Rachel Singleton, encouraged “all AI suppliers to engage with the AI Model Arena. This is your opportunity to showcase your capabilities, drive innovation, and help shape the future of Defence AI.”