USF and By Light formalize partnership to advance trusted AI for national security
USF and By Light formalize partnership to advance trusted AI for national security
Publish Date: 2026-04-08 16:26:00
Source Domain: www.usf.edu
Using an unordered list, summarize the following article with between 4 and 8 key points.
By Tina Meketa, University Communications and Marketing
The University of South Florida and defense contractor By Light Professional IT Services LLC have formalized a strategic partnership to advance the development of safer, more
reliable artificial intelligence systems for national security and beyond.
The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration across the full spectrum of
modern conflict and technology. Key focus areas for future joint initiatives include
artificial intelligence, aerospace and space operations, hypersonics, cyber and cybersecurity
and the development of next-generation unmanned aerial and ground systems. At the
center of the partnership is a shared goal: Ensuring that emerging AI technologies
are not only powerful, but also trustworthy.
“As a USF alumnus, I’ve seen firsthand the university’s trajectory in becoming a premier
research institution, said Bob Donahue, CEO of By Light. “Formalizing this partnership
allows By Light to bridge the gap between academic rigor and operational necessity.
USF’s world-class research, particularly within the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing and the Global and National Security Institute, provides the foundational ‘AI assurance’ required to deploy these technologies in
high-stakes environments where failure is not an option.”
While By Light specializes in developing advanced simulation environments and AI-driven
systems for defense applications, USF researchers bring a distinct strength – using
mathematics and theoretical computer science to verify that these systems behave as
intended.
“AI systems are already being used to make complex decisions in high-stakes environments.
Our role is to ensure those systems are reliable, transparent and aligned with human
expectations.”
Assistant Professor Ankur MaliUSF Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing
Building trust into AI systems
A key focus of the collaboration is developing what researchers call “AI assurance”
– methods that go beyond training algorithms to mathematically evaluate and validate
their behavior.
In one project, researchers are working to enhance automated target recognition systems
by introducing formal safeguards. These tools are designed to help AI systems distinguish
between valid targets and protected entities, while also providing measurable confidence
in those decisions.
Rather than relying solely on data and probability, USF researchers are applying formal
methods – rigorous mathematical techniques – to establish clear boundaries around
how AI systems operate.
“Our work focuses on providing formal guarantees – mathematically proving how these
systems will behave under different conditions,” said Anshuman Chhabra, assistant
professor of computer science and engineering. “It’s about adding a layer of robustness
and accountability that goes beyond traditional AI development.”
Simulating the unknown
Because real-world defense scenarios are difficult – and often impossible to replicate
at scale, By Light generates large volumes of synthetic data through advanced simulations.
These simulations model a wide range of environments, from varied weather conditions
to disrupted communications systems.
USF researchers then analyze this data to ensure the underlying models are sound and
that the AI systems trained on it perform reliably across scenarios.
“Since real-world data is limited, simulation plays a critical role,” said Seungbae
Kim, assistant professor in the Bellini College. “Our goal is to ensure that synthetic
data leads to reliable performance in real-world environments.”
Another area of collaboration focuses on autonomous systems operating in GPS-denied
environments – situations where navigation signals are unavailable or disrupted. Researchers
are developing methods to ensure unmanned systems can continue to operate safely and
effectively under these conditions, even when external guidance is limited.
Broader impact beyond defense
While the initial applications are focused on national security, the implications
of this work extend far beyond the defense sector.
The same techniques used to validate AI decision-making could be applied in health
care, cybersecurity and critical infrastructure – anywhere AI is used to support high-stakes
decisions.
Strengthening innovation in Florida
The partnership also reinforces USF’s role as a leader in emerging technologies and
strengthens connections between academia, industry and national security partners.
USF’s Global and National Security Institute, Institute of Applied Engineering and Bellini College together create an integrated ecosystem to help partners find solutions to national
security challenges at the boundary of technology and policy.
By combining real-world applications with foundational research, the collaboration
provides opportunities for students and researchers to contribute to cutting-edge
innovations with global impact.
