What do an F-16 and AI Co-Pilots Have in Common?

I think about AI a lot.

And the thing I most often think about is decision making velocity.

AI is speeding it up.

As with most things, we have seen this before.

The original insight came from Colonel John Boyd, a military strategist who changed the face of modern combat and decision-making.

During the Korean War, Boyd studied air engagements and discovered that despite U.S. aircraft being slower than their North Korean counterparts, American pilots achieved a superior kill ratio of 10:1.

This insight emphasised that agility and speed of decision-making were more critical in overcoming adversaries than technological superiority alone.

Boyd formulated the OODA loop—Observe, Orient, Decide, Act—to encapsulate this dynamic decision cycle.

His insight was, that in an engagement whichever party could move through this loop faster then their competitor, would win. Often despite being weaker, less intelligent or less advanced.

To win, you had to make evidence based decisions, faster.

For example, the cockpit design of the F16, heavily influenced by Boyd's insights, emphasises not only advanced avionics but also improved visibility. This strategic layout ensures pilots have unobstructed views and direct access to essential controls, which are crucial for enhancing situational awareness and accelerating the decision-making cycle in complex combat scenarios.

Generative AI has the same impact on of decision making velocity.

AI’s ability to synthesise millions of data points using natural language speeds up the passage of information to decision makers.

This enables them to be more nimble in their decision making:

It reduces the chances of making the wrong decision - because the decision was data led.

It gives them more time to correct course - if they decide to change their mind.

It eliminates the pollution of data overwhelm, causing decision makers to freeze.

This transition to AI-driven tools is a natural progression for adaptive organisations, akin to the shift from aircraft with limited visibility to those designed to maximise a pilot’s field of view, providing near 360° vision.

Just as Boyd’s OODA loop, emphasised the mission critical importance of pilots having the superior ability to out manoeuvre their opponents with faster decisions, we can use AI to navigate through OODA loops within complex data environments; to more rapidly reach the right decision.

In the maritime industry, time is precious. A crew change in two days, a cargo to fix in four hours: these scenarios demand immediate resolution. Generative AI enables users to collapse decision making timelines by surfacing critical data faster saving teams the hours and days that it used to take to reach a decision point.

What crew are available with correct documentation and a readiness date in the next week?

What are the last 5 freight rates I quoted for a J19 methanol cargo loading at Houston and discharging in Antwerp?

In the Korean war, the reasons for the success of the American aircraft over the North Korean aircraft were unknown - until Boyd conducted his analysis.

Whilst the OODA loop is relatively commonly understood within business as a result of the proliferation of Boyd's work. It is incumbent on senior leaders to revisit Boyd's insights in decision making to assess whether the impact of generative ai on their businesses speed of decision making will give them an advantage over the competition that can be successfully monetised.

As I said at the beginning, as with most things, we have seen this before:

The same scenario, between those who have prioritised visibility of their decision making data and those that have not, is playing out again.