The Department of Veterans Affairs has unveiled a research and development hub for artificial intelligence-based health care technology platforms intended to support former military personnel, their families and caregivers.

VA said Thursday the National Artificial Intelligence Institute will collect ideas from veterans and organizations across the government, commercial and academic sectors to facilitate R&D programs.

The department’s Office of R&D and Center for Strategic Partnerships collaborated to establish the facility.

Robert Wilkie, VA secretary and a 2019 Wash100 winner, said the institute will work to drive introduction of new systems and initiatives meant to help the government manage health outcomes for veterans.

The institute will build on the National AI R&D Strategic Plan and American AI Initiative to support large-scale programs, policies and partnerships.

VA noted it uses the technology in efforts to reduce wait times at medical facilities as well as help clinicians identify individuals at risk of suicide and choose treatments for patients.

George Kamis, chief technology officer for global governments and critical infrastructure at Forcepoint, wrote in an opinion piece published Thursday how cross-domain technologies could help the U.S. military operationalize and make data available at all classification levels and to international mission partners.

“Cross-domain technologies closely inspect, transform and monitor data transfers, ensuring only correct and authorized information crosses systems and networks at different security levels,” Kamis wrote. “Without cross-domain technology, networks with different classification levels remain separate.”

He noted that such technologies will serve as a foundation of the military’s internet of things and are considered “non-negotiable” in this age of digital transformation.

“Cross-domain technologies also allow crucial transfers to take place without leaving the tactical edge, ensuring military officers and others receive the information they need to make the best strategic decisions they can,” Kamis added.

Reps. Pete Olson (R-Texas) and Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.), co-chairs of the Congressional Artificial Intelligence Caucus, said they want federal agencies to coordinate more on AI initiatives to achieve efficiency, Federal Times reported Thursday.

“Let’s talk guys, no duplicates, spend our taxpayer dollars wisely,” Olson said Thursday at the GovernmentCIO AI and RPA in Government conference. “We’re working hard with this caucus to get people informed, educated, so they can go help us legislate.”

McNerney said Congress needs to assess how to increase investments in AI development.

“We’re not spending enough resources right now to do the job,” McNerney said. “We need to increase federal participation in artificial intelligence both in terms of expenditures and in terms of creating job opportunities in the government for artificial intelligence.”

Maj. Gen. David Isaacson, director of networks, services and strategy at the U.S. Army, said that 5G connectivity can be leveraged for training activities and physical security at installations in the future, C4ISRnet reported Wednesday.

In an interview with the publication, Isaacson noted that 5G can potentially be used to support real-time data transmission in a synthetic training environment. He added that the technology can assist logistics operations, reduce servicemen and women’s exposure to harmful environments and help accelerate the automation of security systems at military facilities.

“From a capacity and low-latency perspective alone, I think we’re going to find that extraordinary amounts of data are going to be able to be maneuvered,” he said. “The opportunities at posts, camps and stations are boundless. I think it’s going to be successful because of the partnership with our industry partners. They are going to help us to get it rolled out.”

Doug Loverro, NASA’s associate administrator for human exploration and operations, said the space agency essentially requires the Space Launch System to pursue the manned lunar mission planned for 2024, Space News reported Wednesday.

Loverro made this statement with Jim Bridenstine, NASA administrator, against criticisms on SLS’ high sustainment costs compared to those of commercial launch vehicles.

An official from the Office of Management and Budget claimed that SLS would cost $2B per launch, compared to a commercial launch valued at one-fourth the amount.

Loverro said he does not see SLS as a competitive effort against commercial vehicles, noting that NASA needs every launch opportunity available from the country. Bridenstine also noted that OMB’s $2B estimate far exceeds his projection on the SLS rocket’s cost per launch.

“I think at the end, we’re going to be at the $800M to $900M range,” Bridenstine said and added that his estimates are also unsure as the SLS production contract had just begun.

NASA seeks to revive manned lunar exploration via the Artemis program, with SLS serving as a major component for the effort.