In a bold move to integrate artificial intelligence into its operations, Amy Gilliland, president of General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), expressed her commitment to leveraging AI as a tool for enhancing employee capabilities rather than replacing them. This statement comes amidst growing skepticism regarding the tangible benefits of AI technologies, including chatbots, and concerns over a potential AI investment bubble.
During a media roundtable held in Washington, Gilliland highlighted that GDIT is already utilizing AI to assist employees in navigating internal job opportunities. The company is also exploring AI’s potential in coding and processing proposals. Despite a recent MIT study indicating that 95 percent of companies have reported “zero return” on investments in generative AI, Gilliland believes it’s premature to assess such frameworks for GDIT’s approach to AI.
“It’s early days,” Gilliland remarked, emphasizing the focus on education around AI’s capabilities. She explained that the primary investment for GDIT is in customizing Large Language Models (LLMs) to suit the company’s unique environment. Furthermore, Gilliland noted a significant increase in AI training, with ten times more courses taken in 2025 compared to the previous year.
GDIT employees have shown enthusiasm about using AI to handle routine coding tasks, allowing them to concentrate on more intellectually stimulating projects. Gilliland humorously noted, “They don’t want to eat the broccoli; they just want to have dessert,” referring to the preference for engaging work over tedious tasks.
The company is also utilizing LLMs to draft proposals by quickly identifying key points within complex government documents and drawing on similar past projects. Although human oversight will remain essential, LLMs can expedite the initial stages of the proposal process, allowing employees to focus on higher-level tasks. “I’m not replacing those employees,” Gilliland clarified. “I am helping those employees say, ‘Okay, these are the things that I need to focus on.’”
GDIT has implemented an AI tool for “internal mobility,” which matches employees with new opportunities within the company. This algorithm aids in both permanent job changes and short-term assignments, or “gigs,” lasting from six days to six weeks.
New Facility Enhances AI Development
The roundtable event also marked the unveiling of GDIT’s new “Mission Emerge Center” in Springfield, Virginia, a 5,000-square-foot facility designed for demonstrating new AI products to potential government clients. Attendees viewed various AI applications, including surveillance video analysis, 3D mapping software, and user-friendly chatbots aimed at simplifying complex geospatial intelligence tools.
Operating in unclassified “sandboxes,” this center allows government customers to experiment with software and provide feedback before committing to lengthy and costly vetting processes for secure networks. Located just minutes from a major campus of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA), the center is positioned to foster collaboration with one of GDIT’s primary clients.
Gilliland emphasized that advancements like AI and new collaborative venues could enable the military to accelerate technology upgrades significantly, shifting from years to mere weeks or days. She cited the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, stating, “We’re watching pretty scrappy Ukrainian troops figure out how to use technology in new and different ways … in real time.”
As a result, responses from military and intelligence customers have evolved. Instead of the traditional timeline of waiting a year for follow-up meetings, clients are now asking for Agile sprints within weeks to monitor progress and development.
“This is a big change from traditional turnaround times,” Gilliland explained, drawing on her experience as a former Navy officer. “On a ship, it used to be that when you came back into port from deployment, they would literally cut a hole in the side of the ship to take the last deployment of software out… Well, I’d like to get that while I’m underway. That is where we’re headed, and I think that’s where we need to be.”
Gilliland’s forward-thinking approach signals a pivotal moment for GDIT as it navigates the evolving landscape of AI technology while prioritizing employee empowerment and operational efficiency.
