DARPA's AI Forward program advances trustworthy artificial intelligence systems for national security through AI Exploration (AIE) opportunities using streamlined contracting procedures. The program emerged from two 2023 workshops with approximately 200 participants from commercial, academic, and government sectors. AI Forward funds 18-month projects to establish feasibility of new AI concepts, with awards issued within 3 months of opportunity announcement. The program addresses three essential research thrusts: foundational theory for understanding AI system limits and guardrails, AI engineering for predictable real-world deployment, and human-AI teaming for trustworthy collaboration. Associated active programs include EMHAT, FACT, and FoundSci. DARPA has invested over $2 billion through its AI Next campaign since 2018, with approximately 70% of current DARPA programs utilizing AI or machine learning. Proposals are submitted through the DARPA R&D Opportunities portal.

AI Exploration (AIE) programs is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). AI Exploration (AIE) programs are funding opportunities that use streamlined contracting procedures to establish the feasibility of new AI concepts. This initiative explores new directions for AI research that will result in trustworthy systems for national security missions, including improving robustness, reliability, security, and resiliency of AI systems.

DARPA's Artificial Intelligence Exploration (AIE) Program Announcement (DARPA-PA-25-03) constitutes a series of unique funding opportunities that use streamlined contracting procedures and funding mechanisms to achieve a start date within three months of an opportunity announcement, with researchers working to establish the feasibility of new AI concepts within 18 months of award. AIE is a key element of DARPA's broader AI investment strategy designed to maintain U.S. technological advantage in artificial intelligence research, supporting fundamental and applied R&D projects aimed at developing AI systems that function as trusted and collaborative partners in solving problems of importance to national security. Periodic AIE Opportunities are solicited through Solicitation Notices under Contract Opportunities on SAM.gov, with relatively short response windows of 30 to 45 days from announcement to abstract deadline. AIE is the most agile entry point for AI researchers with breakthrough ideas across DARPA's strategic priorities including agentic AI, AI safety and trust, multi-agent coordination, AI for cybersecurity, and AI for scientific discovery.

AI Exploration (AIE) program is sponsored by DARPA. This program seeks to create a theory-driven, highly reusable, scalable foundation for high-assurance AI by merging machine learning's speed and flexibility with automated reasoning's verifiability and logical explainability. Technical Area 1 (TA1) focuses on developing new high-assurance ML/AR composition approaches including theory, algorithms, and open-source software implementations. Application domains include multi-condition medical applications.

AI Next Campaign / Artificial Intelligence Exploration (AIE) Program is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). DARPA's AI Next Campaign and Artificial Intelligence Exploration (AIE) program fund high-risk, high-payoff projects to establish the feasibility of new AI concepts, with a focus on national security but also advancing trustworthy AI systems, improving robustness and reliability, and pioneering next-generation AI algorithms, including those with 'explainability' for human understanding.

DARPA AI Cyber Challenge (Small Business Track, future rounds) is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). DARPA AI Cyber Challenge (Small Business Track, future rounds) is a grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency that funds small business teams developing AI-powered cybersecurity solutions capable of autonomously defending critical software systems.

AI Exploration Opportunities (AIEs) under AI Forward is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). AI Forward is DARPA's initiative to explore new directions for artificial intelligence (AI) research that will result in trustworthy systems for national security missions. AIEs are unique funding opportunities that use streamlined contracting procedures to establish the feasibility of new AI concepts. This could include research into AI for security threat detection.

AI Next Campaign is a grant program from DARPA that funds advanced research and development in next-generation artificial intelligence, with a multi-year investment of more than 2 billion dollars announced in 2018. The campaign builds on DARPA's five decades of AI leadership and aims to develop Third Wave AI technologies capable of acquiring new knowledge through generative contextual and explanatory models. Key focus areas include automating critical Department of Defense business processes, improving the robustness and reliability of AI systems, enhancing security and resiliency of machine learning technologies, reducing power and performance inefficiencies, and pioneering next-generation AI algorithms such as explainability and common sense reasoning. Eligible performers include universities, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations capable of conducting advanced research and development. Specific solicitations and funding amounts vary by program and are released on an ongoing basis.

AI Forward Initiative (AI Exploration opportunities - AIEs) is sponsored by DARPA. AI Forward is DARPA's initiative to explore new directions for artificial intelligence (AI) research that will result in trustworthy systems for national security missions. AIEs are unique funding opportunities for researchers to establish the feasibility of new AI concepts.

AI Next Campaign / AI Exploration (AIE) Program is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). DARPA's AI Next Campaign and its successor, AI Forward, focus on pioneering next-generation AI algorithms and applications, including those that enhance robustness, reliability, security, and address supply chain logistics in national security missions. AI Exploration (AIE) opportunities are a key component, allowing for rapid exploration of new AI concepts.

Artificial Intelligence Exploration (AIE) Program Announcement for Rapid AI Research (DARPA-PA-25-03) is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). This program announcement solicits innovative research proposals for new AI methodologies and techniques that support the principled characterization and generation of novelty in open worlds and the creation of AI systems capable of operating appropriately and effectively in ope…

DARPA Artificial Intelligence Exploration (AIE) Program Announcement is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). This program funds high-risk, high-payoff projects that establish the feasibility of new AI concepts within 18 months. It uses streamlined contracting procedures to achieve rapid start dates. AIE is a key part of DARPA's strategy to maintain U.

AI Cyber Challenge (AIxCC) is a competition from DARPA that awards prize funding to teams developing AI systems to secure critical software infrastructure. Launched in 2023 as a two-year competition, AIxCC offers a cumulative $29.5 million in prizes, including $7 million specifically designated for small businesses. Competitors design novel AI systems to detect and remediate security vulnerabilities in open-source software that powers critical infrastructure such as transportation, water systems, emergency services, and healthcare. The competition concludes at DEF CON, with a top prize of $4 million. Teams with expertise in AI and cybersecurity are eligible to compete.

AI Research for National Security is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). This initiative funds AI research projects to enhance national defense capabilities. DARPA's AI Forward initiative explores new directions for artificial intelligence research that will result in trustworthy systems for national security missions, which can include countering information warfare and hybrid threats. The AI Next campaign, a multi-year investment of over $2 billion, supports research and development in areas such as improving the robustness and reliability of AI systems and enhancing the security and resiliency of machine learning and AI technologies.

AI Research for National Security is sponsored by U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) / DARPA. This initiative funds AI research projects to enhance national defense capabilities. It includes thrusts in 'Trustworthy AI' focusing on foundational theory, AI engineering to build systems that work as intended, and human-AI teaming. While not explicitly naming 'regulation compliance', trustworthy AI implies adherence to certain standards and ethical guidelines.

AI Research for National Security is sponsored by Department of Defense (DOD) / DARPA. This initiative funds AI research projects to enhance national defense capabilities. DARPA's AI Forward initiative explores new directions for artificial intelligence research that will result in trustworthy systems for national security missions, which can include countering information warfare and hybrid threats. The agency is interested in AI technologies for national security purposes and often has programs focused on urban environments and autonomous systems.