COMMERCIALIZATON OF THE SOCIAL INFLUENCE ALGORITHMS FOR INFORMATION OPERATIONS
Abstract
Understanding and countering radicalization of populations through social media is a pressing problem due to the information operations of organizations such as ISIS, the PRC, Russian youth groups, and others. However, there is a wealth of research on social media that has provided insights into ideas of influence, persuasion, viral marketing, sentiment analysis, social network analysis, data mining, and machine learning that can be used to combat such information operations. Such techniques can lead to improved situational awareness, content creation, strategic marketing, and Òco-messagingÓ operations that can be leveraged to counter these adversarial threats. However, there remains a significant gap between the understanding of such techniques in academic labs and operational use. The previously-funded ARO effort ÒCombinatorial and Scalable Initiation in Complex NetworksÓ (funded directly to the U.S. Military Academy under MIPR 2GDATXR042, $249K, 2012-2014) examined these problems from a basic research perspective. One specific goal was to create algorithm to identify a groups of individuals within a social network who would, as a group, exert influence on a population. To address this problem, an algorithm later referred to as the Shakarian-Paulo-Reichman (SPR) algorithm was developed under this funding. It was shown to be capable of identifying such groups in large populations. The paper introducing this algorithm was awarded ÒBest of 2013Ó by MIT Technology Review. In this proposal, we look to accelerate the commercialization of the SPR algorithm and related technologies from the aforementioned ARO award to benefit the warfighter. This proposal has two main objectives: (1.) identify the best path for rapid commercialization through customer interviews and (2.) create a minimum viable product based on objective 1. The first objective will be accomplished through discussions held with a variety of customers Ð which will include potential military users, DoD funders of applied/advanced research, non-DoD users and funders, and interested parties in industry. This objective is intended to answer key questions relating to commercialization of this technology that include: - What type of offering will best suit DoD customer needs? (i.e. stand-alone software, softwareas-a-service (SaaS), customized consulting) - For what type social network platform(s) would this approach be most well-suited? (i.e. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.) - What scale of population is of interest to DoD customers? (hundreds, thousands, millions) - What type of computing platform would DoD customers desire? (web-based, Microsoft Windows, Android, etc.) - What type of government transition is possible beyond I Corps @ DoD funding? (SBIR, STTR, DARPA, CTTSO, etc.) - Are there parallel markets in outside of the DoD? (i.e. marketing, DoS-related, IC-related, etc.) The second objective entails the creation of a minimum viable product (MVP) that can in-turn be shown to potential users and funders. The MVP will be designed to address feedback from customers obtained through research objective 1. To accomplish the goals, the PI has recently founded a company known as CrossViral, Inc. with his former graduate student (who will function as the entrepreneurial lead). The PI, a military veteran and Arizona State tenure-track faculty is also working with both Arizona StateÕs incubator, as well as an incubator designed to support veterans known as The Armory (which will provide the mentor).
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 27, 2017
- Source ID
- W911NF1610537
Entities
People
- Paulo Shakarian
Organizations
- Arizona State University
- Army Contracting Command
- Office of the Secretary of Defense