Here are the top tech startups disrupting the defense industry — and what they’re selling
September 15, 20240
Scale AI is working with the Department of Defense on artificial intelligence projects.
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Scale AI is a San Francisco-based artificial intelligence startup that was valued at $7 billion in early 2021, but laid off 20% of its staff last year.
In February, the company announced it had partnered with the Defense Department’s artificial intelligence office to test and evaluate large language AI models.
The goal is to provide the military with a “framework” to deploy AI safely by measuring performance, creating specialized evaluation sets to test AI military support models, and generating “real-time feedback for warfighters,” the company says.
SpaceX
SpaceX received a $1.8 billion contract to create spy satellites for the US government.
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In 2022, SpaceX debuted its Starshield satellite, which is similar to its Starlink satellites but is designed for government use and intended to “support national security efforts.”
The company has also provided satellite connectivity through Starlink for military forces in Ukraine. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has faced pressure from numerous governments and groups to leverage the Starlink satellite network. One US congressman pressured Musk in February to provide service for military forces in Taiwan.
Reuters reported in May that SpaceX received a $1.8 billion deal from the US government in 2021 to create “millions of spy satellites” that sources said would make it “so no one can hide.”
