Seeking to build a deep bench of officers who specialize in artificial intelligence and machine learning, the Army has established a new career pathway designating the two disciplines as an official area of concentration.

Formally designated as 49B AI/ML, the new area of concentration advances the Army’s ongoing transformation into a datacentric and AI-enabled force, according to an Army news release.

Planned for phased implementation, the first selection of officers for the new career pathway will begin this month through the Army’s Volunteer Transfer Incentive Program, and the officers will be reclassified by Sept. 30, the end of fiscal year 2026, according to the release.

“This is a deliberate and crucial step in keeping pace with present and future operational requirements,” Lt. Col. Orlandon Howard, a spokesman for the deputy Army chief of staff for personnel, G-1, said in the release. “We’re building a dedicated cadre of in-house experts who will be at the forefront of integrating AI and machine learning across our warfighting functions.”

The new 49B area of concentration will first be open to all officers eligible for the Volunteer Transfer Incentive Program, though officers with advanced academic and technical backgrounds in fields related to artificial intelligence and machine learning will be the most competitive candidates. The Army also is exploring the possibility of expanding the specialized field to include warrant officers, according to the release.

Officers selected for the new area of concentration will undergo graduate-level training and gain hands-on experience in building, deploying and maintaining the Army's cutting-edge AI-enabled systems. Their primary role will be to operationalize these advanced capabilities across the range of military operations, the release said.

Strategically, the purpose of the new career field is to build a core group of uniformed Army experts who can accelerate the integration of AI and machine learning. The officers’ talents will apply to a wide range of applications such as accelerating more informed battlefield decision-making, streamlining logistics, supporting robotics and autonomous systems and managing the next generation of battlefield robotics, the release said.

“Establishing the 49B AI/ML career path is another key investment to maintain our decisive edge as an Army,” Howard said in the release, adding that “ultimately, it’s about building a force that can outthink, outpace and outmaneuver any adversary.”