28 infrastructure. One area where significant modernization may be needed, for example, could be a DOD group’s data repositories, including upgrading systems that support the capture, labeling, and storage of information. Further, the DOD’s High Performance Computing Centers (HPC) might seem like a logical support mechanism for running foundation model inferences, but in practice, these assets present significant complications for Gen-AI integration because they are highly decentralized across DOD groups and facilities, and the computers struggle to synchronize with major modern Cloud providers. In our discussions with stakeholders, we consistently heard that clear and streamlined data flows are essential in the DOD, and further, that modernizing the tech stack pyramid will require a change in acquisition strategy to first determine compatibility between each layer of the pyramid in a holistic view before acquiring disparate products from vendors. Given these multi-faceted considerations, we recommend comparing the requirements of the Gen-AI tools against each level of the enterprise’s technology stack and then identifying where dependencies exist between each layer and the relative tool. Figure 9 shows the main layers that teams will need to assess for dependencies and synchronicity. This can allow the enterprise to identify where and how Gen-AI will need to plug into the organization, and further, what technology must be acquired to enable it. Once the dependencies are mapped, analysts can then determine if the existing infrastructure can currently support specific Gen-AI capabilities; however, this is not a binary decision. The existing tech stack may support basic Gen-AI capabilities today but may need significant modernization to enable something more advanced in the future. Achieving a clear understanding of the infrastructure investments required to unlock the various degrees of functionality—and aligning those investments with the organization’s near-term, mid-term, and long-term priorities for Gen-AI integration—can help the enterprise budget and plan for long-term integration. Figure 9: Critical Gen-AI Enabling Enterprise Technology Layers Generative AI Adoption in the US Military