AI: A Tool for Empowerment, Not Replacement

Amy Gilliland, the head of General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), is a strong believer in the power of artificial intelligence (AI). She sees it as a tool to enhance her employees' capabilities, not replace them. GDIT is already using AI to help its staff find new roles within the company. They are also exploring AI's potential to write code and process proposals. But what about the recent MIT study that found most companies are not seeing a return on their AI investments? Gilliland argues it's too early to judge AI's value based on traditional return on investment metrics. She believes the real investment is in training employees to use AI effectively. GDIT has seen a tenfold increase in AI training courses taken in 2025 compared to the previous year. Gilliland's employees are excited about using AI for routine coding tasks. This would free them up to focus on more challenging and interesting work. She also sees potential for AI to help draft proposals by quickly analyzing government documents and finding relevant past projects. GDIT has implemented an AI tool for "internal mobility. " This tool helps match employees to new opportunities within the company, including temporary assignments. The company has also opened a new "Mission Emerge Center" near a major campus of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA). This center serves as a showroom and meeting space where GDIT can demo new AI and other products for potential government customers. Gilliland believes new technologies like AI and new venues for cooperation can help the military upgrade its technology much faster. She points to the Ukrainian military's use of technology in real-time as an example. The Department of Defense (DoD) now expects industry executives to deliver new technologies in weeks or days, not months or years. This is a significant change from traditional turnaround times.