Figure Eight Federal and Microsoft Partner to Enhance AI Transparency and Efficiency in Defense and Intelligence Sectors

Figure Eight Federal (F8F) has partnered with Microsoft to integrate its data labeling platform, Artemis, with Microsoft Azure Platform as a Service (PaaS). This collaboration is aimed at enhancing the transparency and governance of AI development processes in the defense and intelligence sectors, thereby accelerating responsible AI innovation. At the heart of this partnership is F8F's Artemis platform, which specializes in accurate and reliable data labeling. Artemis supports a diverse array of data types, including Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), LiDAR, and multispectral imagery, ensuring that these complex datasets can be labeled in their original form. This capability is crucial for the precision and effectiveness of AI models used in mission-critical applications. Leigh Madden, Vice President of National Security at Microsoft, emphasized the significance of the integration, noting that it brings a data labeling co-pilot to the Department of Defense and intelligence community. By incorporating Azure OpenAI services, the combined platform can enhance data operations and drive greater efficiency and innovation. This integration allows for a consumption-based approach to deploying AI capabilities, reducing the typical high costs and rigid licensing models associated with the defense sector. Tim Klawa, Head of Product at Figure Eight Federal, highlighted the benefits of the collaboration. He stated that coupling F8F's data labeling technology with Microsoft's cloud-native capabilities for data management, MLOps, and generative AI results in a comprehensive, scalable solution. This solution not only lowers operational costs but also ensures that AI models are transparent, trustworthy, and secure, especially important in the context of adversarial threats. The integration addresses a major challenge in AI development within the defense sector: the lack of transparency and data governance in data labeling, model training, and evaluation. The modular architecture of Artemis, when used with Azure PaaS, allows government agencies to quickly set up end-to-end data and AI capabilities. Each sub-component of the AI pipeline can be transparently observed and replaced, making it easier to integrate third-party vendors while maintaining full data governance. This flexibility is crucial for adapting to the rapidly evolving needs of the defense and intelligence communities. Vinay Malkani, CEO of Figure Eight Federal, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating that it brings commercially proven capabilities to the government sector. These capabilities are essential for driving data quality and unleashing AI innovation. F8F and Microsoft's joint solution is designed to mitigate the risks associated with large-scale data labeling and provide a secure, adaptable foundation for defense AI applications. Additionally, the collaboration involves rigorous government testing to ensure the platform meets the stringent requirements of the defense and intelligence sectors. This testing process guarantees that the integrated technology is robust and reliable, capable of handling sensitive and mission-critical data. The Artemis platform’s human-in-the-loop feature is another key aspect of the integration. Domain experts can perform evaluations and fine-tune generative AI models, ensuring that they are optimized for specific defense workflows. Integrated generative AI capabilities also help reduce programmatic risks, further enhancing the platform's utility in large-scale data labeling efforts. This partnership positions F8F and Microsoft as leaders in providing transparent, secure, and efficient AI solutions tailored to the unique demands of the defense industry. The combination of F8F's specialized data labeling and Microsoft's cloud-native services offers a compelling solution for agencies looking to modernize their AI operations and stay ahead of technological advancements. Industry insiders view this collaboration positively, noting that it could significantly impact how government agencies manage and deploy AI technologies. The emphasis on governance, transparency, and flexibility aligns well with the growing need for ethical and responsible AI development in sensitive sectors. Both F8F and Microsoft bring strong credentials and expertise to the table, with F8F being Appen's FOCI-mitigated arm focused on the U.S. defense and intelligence sectors and Microsoft renowned for its leadership in cloud computing and AI innovation.