Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has set up a new office to coordinate the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) across the armed forces, according to state media.
The Artificial Intelligence Project Office quietly began work in early October inside ministry headquarters and is consolidating previously scattered AI projects under one roof, Lt. Gen. Huang Wen-chi told lawmakers.
Huang, who leads the ministry’s Strategic Planning Department, said the hub follows legislative guidance to integrate trusted commercial AI tools into military operations.
Early efforts focus on “image recognition, computer protection, and anti-hacking,” while more advanced applications will be introduced once the systems prove stable.
Defense Minister Wellington Koo noted that the office remains in a testing phase, mainly gathering AI requirements from different service branches and matching them with available technologies.
He added there is “no timetable yet” for when the office will be fully up and running.
Aligned With Government AI Strategy
The initiative reflects Taiwan’s broader government policy to adopt mature, commercial AI products for defense use.
By centralizing coordination, the ministry aims to streamline testing, integration, and deployment of AI technologies.
The office also supports ongoing prototype projects developed under the Defense Innovation Office — a DARPA-inspired division established in 2024 — including satellite-image recognition systems, smart combat tools, and automated warehouse management.
