Coast Guard To Evaluate ‘Agentic AI’ Technology

In early September, the U.S. Coast Guard announced plans to consider a research agreement with a company called VoiceBrain (VB). The notice referenced a cooperative research and development agreement, or CRADA, which would allow the government to evaluate a new technology by partnering with a private company to evaluate whether its product performs as expected in close to real-world situations.

Importantly, a CRADA announcement also provides an opportunity for other companies to pitch their tech or services and possibly join the research project. Plus, it offers a chance for other federal agencies to participate and for the general public to weigh in on the upcoming work.

VoiceBrain specializes in capturing live voice communications—notably from people using land mobile radios (LMRs)—and instantly converting their speech into data that can be analyzed and acted upon. VoiceBrain transforms frontline voice communications into real-time situational awareness. Every radio or voice transmission turns into actionable intelligence by unifying it with data from sensors, CAD and video systems. The technology enables faster response, greater interoperability and safer operations.

In its message, the Coast Guard explained that the CRADA’s goal “is to determine the efficacy of artificial intelligence multicast overlays.” A “multicast overlay” results when a new network is added onto an existing network to deliver information to multiple recipients. VoiceBrain’s technology would add to existing Coast Guard communications assets. The Coast Guard further stated that VoiceBrain would provide an opportunity to “streamline and enhance the process of maritime response by eliminating human error and fatigue.”

In an interview, Kinuko Masaki, founder of VoiceBrain, noted that the human voice is the backbone of communications. “Now,” she said, “we are making voice the engine of operational awareness.”

Consider a mayday call on the Coast Guard’s emergency Channel 16 for example. During that call, VoiceBrain would capture a vessel’s exact location. Depending on the extent that various databases are linked, it can access additional information like passengers or cargo or vessel type and push that information out to inform the emergency response. The alert can be delivered via radio, text or any other messaging platform.

“Right now,” said Tony Ayaz, an executive at VoiceBrain, “data is in silos. AI can cut through those silos to access the data needed. VB connects the dots between speech and other data sources to take action. We do this with a very robust platform. We want to demonstrate and confirm workability with the Coast Guard.”

The VoiceBrain team is working on final details to sync and maximize the platform’s potential with Coast Guard demands.

“We’re finalizing a common operational language,” Ayaz said. “We want to make sure that VB captures all of the Coast Guard’s relevant codes. After all, not every word spoken has the same meaning in all organizations.”

Masaki emphasized that real-world operations will “always need the human in the loop. VB will not displace people because there are so many things that happen in mission-critical communications.”

VB, instead, will operate in the background “to make suggestions about what actions could be taken, versus an operator taking precious seconds or minutes trying to figure out all possible options,” Masaki explained.

VoiceBrain is a new, stronger iteration of artificial intelligence known as “agentic AI,” or an AI that has agency or the ability to act on its own. The potential applications (and implications) of agentic AI are summarized in a 2024 white paper published by Gartner, a consulting firm, written by a team of authors led by Tom Coshow and Arnold Gao. The paper, titled “Top Strategic Technology Trends for 2025: Agentic AI,” found that agentic AI gives AI new levels of agency, or the ability to select what actions to take for achieving particular outcomes. Agentic AI can adjust its decision making, because it can quickly analyze complex datasets, identify patterns and act accordingly. It also learns from its working environment.

The Coast Guard’s legal staff stated that Coast Guard personnel would be “unable to provide answers” about the VoiceBrain CRADA and the issues and situations where an agentic AI product like VoiceBrain could be used. Coast Guard officials declined to answer questions about CRADAs in general like how long such agreements usually last or when VoiceBrain work might start or whether CRADAs sometimes lead to new maritime safety requirements. However, given the references to existing communication platforms and maritime response, the Coast Guard’s interest in VoiceBrain likely stems from its ability to enhance the value of daily radio communications, especially during critical situations.

AI In The Maritime Industry

As a resource, AI is getting a much closer look among towboat and barge company executives, and it is already taking on larger roles in company operations. That’s the assessment of Jennifer Carpenter, president & CEO of The American Waterways Operators (AWO).

In an interview, Carpenter said that AWO has not yet focused on the issues within the VoiceBrain-Coast Guard CRADA. However, referring to AI more broadly, Carpenter has engaged in discussions about AI with AWO members over the last six months regarding AI and its possibilities. Like everyone else, maritime execs have known about AI, but its use until recently has been largely limited to back-office types of operations.

“I think we are at a relatively early stage of adoption,” Carpenter said, “but we are definitely moving beyond the ‘oh wow’ factor to see how AI-enabled platforms help us manage maritime logistics better.”

As examples, Carpenter mentioned how maritime execs are integrating AI into applications to benefit a range of issues and events, from optimizing fuel usage to equipment scheduling and demurrage fees.

Carpenter noted there are a number of new companies already offering maritime-focused AI platforms to inform operations, like providing almost real-time visibility into sea conditions. AI platforms, she said, “can literally provide information on who and what is out there, to shine a light, if you will, in dangerous operating environments. All of this uses AI to make sense of vast amounts of data.”

Carpenter noted the need for appropriate safeguards and being cautious about missteps. However, she said the bottom-line sentiment from AWO members regarding AI is “let’s not be afraid of this, let’s embrace it, because this is a huge opportunity.”

The public comment period for the VoiceBrain CRADA ended October 10. A timetable for next steps remains unclear.