The Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Driven Revolution in Open-Big Data Intelligence Advantage for Modern Warfare
At the end of February 2025, Mr Damiano Di Stefano and MG (Ret) Ivan Caruso presented, at the NATO Mountain Warfare Centre of Excellence (NATO MW COE), the features of the Dataminr FirstAlert Tool for situational awareness and analytical tasks. The presentation was part of the NATO MW COE Digital Transformation Effort as one of NATO NWCC drivers. The visit aimed to enhance Slovenian government agencies and ministries’ understanding of the benefits and when implemented changes in their approach to work in a digital transformation environment enabled by sensors, big data, and AI.
Following his opening address, the NATO MW COE Director Colonel Leon Holc, delivered an introductory presentation outlining the NATO MW COE’s mission, key activities, and long-term plan.
In an era where every smartphone is a sensor, every tweet a data point, and every video a battlefield report, modern warfare is being reshaped by the power of open-source intelligence (OSINT). No longer confined to classified intercepts or satellite imagery, intelligence gathering now extends into the vast, unstructured digital ecosystem of global news, blogs, and social media. AI-powered tools, such as Dataminr First Alert scanning and combining Global and Regional social media, News Papers, Blogs, Audio Transmissions, Internet of Things sensors, Deep and Dark Web and Cyber are making sense of this chaotic information landscape, giving militaries and analysts unprecedented access to real-time intelligence.
First Alert by Dataminr is in daily use for more than 10 years from Defence, Foreign Affairs, Governments bodies and agencies as well as private companies with global reach.
