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▶ 27:58 · AI Infrastructure · Edge AI and digital twins accelerate algorithm validation for autonomous weapons certification
episode briefing
a16z

Why Speed, Not Size, Will Define the Next War

2025-10-31 · 2 company · 6 thematic
sentiment
2 bull0 bear0 neu
speakers
gary harasio
shield executive
now playing · AI Infrastructure
Robotics & Physical AItailwindscore 9/10gary harasio
Autonomy and drones are redefining warfare by removing humans from risk and enabling cost-effective mass
Ukraine has proven that low-cost autonomous drones and iterative field deployment create sustainable combat advantage; the US must adopt the same agile iteration cycle — try four things, fa…
Critical Minerals & Supply Chainriskscore 7/10gary harasio
Critical mineral and component dependencies on adversaries remain a strategic vulnerability for directed energy and autonomy programs
Booz Allen found a directed energy program could not be sourced entirely from US or steadfast allies, exposing a supply chain gap that requires multi-agency effort (Energy, Interior, Commer…
Government Technologytailwindscore 8/10shield executive
All-of-nation partnerships between primes, startups, and allies are the only way to match adversary speed and scale
No single entity — government, traditional defense base, or Silicon Valley alone — can counter the China-Russia-Iran-North Korea axis; winning requires trusted, speed-oriented partnerships…
AI Infrastructuretailwindscore 7/10gary harasio
Edge AI and digital twins accelerate algorithm validation for autonomous weapons certification
Digital twin simulations — built with partners like Nvidia — allow rapid training and validation of dynamic AI algorithms for autonomy, solving the trust/safety bottleneck by proving reliab…
Cybersecuritytailwindscore 8/10gary harasio
Adversarial AI and zero-trust architectures are essential to protect autonomous systems from algorithm manipulation
The greatest risk to autonomy is a cyber or safety event that triggers regulatory backlash; Booz Allen's adversarial AI expertise (attacking/defending algorithms) combined with Shield AI's…
Defense Techtailwindscore 9/10gary harasio
Shifting from cost-plus to outcome-based procurement is the key to unlocking speed in defense acquisition
The current 75-100 year old regulatory framework over-relies on cost-plus contracts and minimizes risk rather than speed; moving to outcome-based purchasing where companies deliver capabili…