MIT News AI· 5 min read· Jul 7, 2026
How novice coders can develop AI programs for military applications
A U.S. Air Force cadet, Joshua Lynch, successfully developed a fully functional AI program, the Remote Operating Modular Augmentation Device (ROMAD-AI), using a process called "vibe-coding" with the help of AI chatbots such as Anthropic's Claude, OpenAI's ChatGPT, and Google's Gemini. The program aims to reduce collateral damage and enhance survivability in military missions by providing AI-assisted target recognition, modular intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, autonomous striking, and communication management. Lynch, a novice coder, completed the project in three months, learning methods to improve the code output from the AI chatbots. The practical implication for engineers building AI systems is that vibe-coding can be a viable approach for non-technical users to develop useful software applications, potentially bypassing traditional software development pipelines.