Defense Startup Partners with Boeing to Launch an AI-Piloted Aircraft

There has been an agreement between Boeing Co. and Shield AI Inc., a startup known for its autonomous aircraft software, to work together to accelerated the deployment of the technology in the military and to explore other defense applications for artificial intelligence.

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The Hivemind software has taken a place as Shield AI's trademark software; it is a self-driving AI pilot for aircraft without a GPS or other kind of communication, which makes this software ideal in military zones that are subject to jamming of navigation systems by enemies. There has been a longstanding deployment of Hivemind in combat aircraft as well as drones since 2018.

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It is understandable that AI pilots are critically important to aviation programs, but legacy policies have made it difficult for the government to obtain this complex software to enable them to carry out these functions, according to Ryan Tseng, Shield AI's chief executive officer and cofounder. I am confident that our partnerships with Shield AI and Boeing will be able to meet the government's needs where it is."

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Boeing Phantom Works, one of the company's prototype development groups, will manage the development of the project, according to a statement from the manufacturer. Boeing Phantom Works works on Boeing's defense and security projects.

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It was founded in 2015 by Tseng, Brandon Tseng, a former Navy SEAL who currently serves as the company's president, and Andrew Reiter, who is a former Air Force employee now working for Shield AI. Several contracts have been awarded to Hivemind by the US Air Force, including a $60 million contract signed in February last year to install the software in a variety of aircraft. Tseng said that as of this moment, Shield AI has an estimated value of $2.3 billion.

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A record $1.9 billion was invested in defense startups by venture capitalists last year. As the US military seeks to develop new and more effective technologies to meet military demands, venture capitalists invested in startups such as Shield AI, Anduril Industries Inc., and HawkEye 360. As the new Office of Strategic Capital of the U.S. Department of Defense was unveiled in December, it has been tasked with creating or improving the government's relationship with the venture capital community and assisting the Pentagon in purchasing software products.