Pentagon Seeks $30.3M for AI Lie Detector

The U.S. Department of Defense has formally requested $30.3 million in funding over the next five years to develop an advanced lie detection system, referred to as "Polygraph+" or "Polygraph Next." This initiative aims to modernize federal polygraph and credibility assessment technologies, with a specific focus on enhancing accuracy and reliability. The program will leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning for scoring algorithms and will explore "standoff sensing" techniques. Standoff sensing refers to the capability of obtaining physiological readings from an individual without the need for direct physical contact or attached devices, a significant departure from traditional polygraph methods.

Details of the budget request, initially reported by Inside Defense, outline the project's goal to "modernize federal polygraph and credibility assessment technologies." However, the endeavor faces skepticism from experts like Kyri Kotsoglou, a professor at Northumbria Law School, who studies polygraph use in the justice system. Kotsoglou views such efforts as a "misguided effort to reduce the complex to something that is tangible," suggesting that human credibility assessment may be inherently too nuanced for purely technological solutions.

The Pentagon's push for enhanced lie detection capabilities comes amid heightened internal security concerns and a reported increase in the use of polygraph tests. Under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the department has reportedly intensified its use of polygraphs in an effort to identify sources of alleged leaks to the press. For instance, in September, The New York Times reported that approximately 50 officers on the Joint Staff underwent polygraph examinations following news coverage that detailed depleted U.S. weapons stockpiles in the context of the war with Iran.

The "Polygraph+" program will be managed by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), an entity responsible for conducting background checks for federal employees. According to the budget document, which awaits Congressional approval, the new technology is intended for use in vetting prospective employees and for "insider threat detection." While specific technologies to be employed have not yet been disclosed, and the DCSA did not provide further comment when contacted, other Department of Defense initiatives may offer insights into potential technological avenues. For example, the agency's Defense Innovation Unit has previously explored various advanced technologies, though specific details on their application to lie detection remain unconfirmed.