Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, head of the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), says an artificial intelligence tool has “saved a lot of aircraft” during combat operations connected to the “Epic Fury” effort. Speaking about the approach, Conley characterizes the adoption of machine learning capabilities as driven by operational necessity. He says the service used available machine learning tools in the context of missions under Epic Fury, applying them to help improve outcomes and reduce risk to aircraft. Both outlets report the same central claim: Conley credits the AI tool with contributing to aircraft survivability during the operation, without providing detailed technical specifications, performance metrics, or independent verification in the cited excerpts. The reporting also does not describe the specific functions the AI tool performs, such as decision support, threat detection, maintenance forecasting, or targeting-related assistance. Overall, the sources present the statement as an account from the AFSOC chief emphasizing the role of existing AI and machine learning tools in supporting combat operations.