TAMPA, Florida. Shield AI engineers are working to change the way the U.S. military and U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) leverage artificial intelligence (AI) capability. In an interview I did with Brandon Tseng, co-founder and president of Shield AI, for the SOF Week Show Daily, he and I discussed why USSOCOM is the best customer to deal with when introducing new technology, the tech Shield AI is showcasing at SOF Week in Tampa, and how AI pilots will enable small groups of warfighters to command the same combat power as a carrier strike group. Brandon also shared experiences from his years as a U.S. Navy SEAL. Edited excerpts follow.

WASHINGTON, D.C. Shield AI, a company that develops advanced AI pilot technologies, plans to acquire Sentient Vision Systems, an Australian company specializing in AI-enabled real-time situational awareness technologies, Shield AI announced in a statement.

SAN DIEGO, California. Kratos and Shield AI recently completed the initial phase of AI-piloted flight testing using the Kratos Tactical Firejet, the companies announced in a statement.

SAN DIEGO, California. Shield AI won a contract from Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR PMA-281) to integrate its Hivemind artificial intelligence (AI) pilot into the Kratos BQM-177A as part of an initiative to enhance the aircraft with advanced AI-based autonomy capabilities, the company announced in a statement.

WASHINGTON. Two companies -- Shield AI, a U.S. defense technology company and Sentient Vision Systems (Sentient), an Australia-based company that makes artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled real-time situational-awareness tools -- agreed to a long-term agreement to deliver Sentient’s ViDAR AI system for use on the Sentient V-BAT vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aerial system (UAS).

FALLS CHURCH, Va. Northrop Grumman Corporation and Martin UAV (a Shield AI company) have completed flight testing of a V-BAT unmanned aircraft system (UAS) with new features including GPS-denied navigation and target designation capabilities.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. Shield AI, a defense technology company developing artificial intelligence (AI) and self-driving technologies for aircraft, announced it has raised $210 million in equity financing as part of a Series D fundraising round, increasing its valuation past the billion-dollar mark.