Leidos and VML Launch Imperium: An AI Platform for U.S. Information Operations
Leidos and VML introduced Imperium, an AI platform built to help U.S. combatant commands act faster in complex information environments. It brings planning, implementation, analysis, and assessment into one workflow so teams can move with speed and clarity.
The system automatically flags shifting narratives, emerging threats, and windows for proactive engagement. As Jason McCarthy of Leidos put it, the goal is "faster, more agile information operations capabilities."
What Imperium Is Built to Do
Imperium focuses on information dominance through automation and decision support. It shortens the loop from sensing to action by connecting data intake, insight generation, and effects planning in one place.
For operations leaders, that means fewer handoffs, tighter coordination across functions, and faster turnarounds when narratives or threat vectors move.
How It's Engineered for National Security
The platform blends Leidos' national security and AI experience with VML's communications and analytics expertise. At the core is Leidos' Trusted Mission AI-built for transparent, explainable outputs that can be reviewed, audited, and defended.
Its design philosophy aligns with established compliance and ethical standards, including guidance such as the DoD AI Ethical Principles and the NIST AI Risk Management Framework.
Operational Benefits You Can Bank On
Initial testing showed certain analysis and assessment tasks dropping from days to hours. That compression improves situational awareness and execution speed across domains.
Expect clearer prioritization, tighter synchronization across teams, and quicker pivots when the information fight shifts.
What This Means for Operations Leaders
- Integrate Imperium into your planning rhythm so insight-to-action becomes continuous, not episodic.
- Treat transparency and explainability as operational requirements, not compliance chores. Build review steps into the workflow.
- Define measures of performance and effectiveness upfront. Tie them to tempo, accuracy, and impact in the target environment.
- Align authorities and rules of engagement with AI-assisted workflows. Reduce approval friction where possible.
- Red-team the analytics and narratives. Stress-test outputs before scaling effects.
- Plan for data logistics: sources, access, classification, and latency. Garbage in still means garbage out.
- Own the change management. Train operators, analysts, and planners together to avoid tool silos.
First Steps to Get Your Team Ready
- Inventory data sources and remove bottlenecks to timely, compliant access.
- Map your current SOPs to Imperium's plan-execute-assess loop. Cut redundant steps.
- Establish an oversight cadence for model outputs and narrative targeting.
- Run a tabletop with real scenarios and predefine escalation paths.
- Instrument the workflow with metrics that matter: time-to-insight, decision latency, and effect realization.
- Upskill your core team on AI-assisted planning and assessment.
If you're formalizing upskilling for operations roles, review our curated options here: AI courses by job.
Bottom Line
Imperium compresses the planning and assessment cycle for information operations. The advantage won't come from the platform alone-it will come from how well you integrate it into data pipelines, decision rights, and training.
Start with data readiness, process alignment, and clear metrics. Speed follows structure.
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