SHADE is an Artificial Intelligence Exploration (AIE) Program funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The 18-month program (Jan. 2022-Jun. 2023) will pursue technologies that leverage an understanding of nuanced communications and situational awareness to inform and improve key elements of the diplomatic process, including strategic decision-making, collaboration, and deception.
Diplomatic negotiation is a highly complex decision process that requires a detailed, in-depth understanding of the positions and interactions of many, potentially untrustworthy, allies and adversaries. Successful diplomats must identify deceptions, explore valid courses of action, and assess the consequences of any diplomatic actions. The United States government relies on international negotiations and diplomatic processes to encourage global stability by mediating peace agreements, brokering strategic alliances, and establishing U.S. military strategic advantage.
The SHADE Program will use the surrogate, simulated (gaming) environment of Diplomacy to train and evaluate fully-automated, AI negotiation agents capable of addressing complex multi-party interactions, which include deception, collusion, profiling, and other real-world features.
Performers
- Cynnovative
- Jataware Corp.
- Lockheed Martin Advanced Tech. Lab
- Northwestern University (Subrahmanian & Birnbaum)
- Palo Alto Research Center
- Strategy Robot
- University of Maryland (Boyd-Graber)