AI & Defense Technology with Anduril CEO Brian Schimpf
No Priors: Artificial Intelligence | Technology | Startups
Deep Dive
Why did Brian Schimpf and his co-founders start Anduril?
Brian Schimpf and his co-founders started Anduril to address the need for higher quantities of lower-cost defense systems driven by intelligent software. They recognized that traditional defense contractors excelled at producing expensive, high-end systems but were not equipped to handle the emerging demand for scalable, software-driven solutions. They aimed to bring modern software approaches to the defense space, combining hardware and software to solve urgent defense problems efficiently.
What is the significance of Anduril's Lattice software?
Anduril's Lattice software is a defense-specific platform designed to track and understand everything in the environment by processing vast amounts of sensor data. It helps detect and classify targets like tanks, ships, and airplanes, making sense of complex battlefield information. Lattice serves as the foundation for integrating various hardware platforms, enabling scalable and autonomous defense solutions.
How does Anduril approach autonomy in defense systems?
Anduril adopts a crawl, walk, run strategy for autonomy in defense systems, ensuring predictability and trust for operators. They focus on increasing human agency and control, presenting the right information to aid decision-making. Systems are designed to be reliable and predictable, with autonomy applied to tasks like mission execution in underwater submarines, where human intervention is limited due to communication constraints.
What are the challenges of scaling a defense tech company like Anduril?
Scaling a defense tech company like Anduril involves navigating episodic growth due to the nature of defense contracts, which can jump from small pilots to large-scale deployments. The company must balance preparedness for rapid scaling without over-investing early. Additionally, defense contracts require comprehensive capabilities, including hardware, software, support, training, and logistics, making it a complex and resource-intensive process.
What role does AI play in Anduril's defense solutions?
AI is central to Anduril's defense solutions, enabling the processing of vast amounts of sensor data to detect and classify targets in real-time. It powers autonomous systems like drones and underwater submarines, allowing them to operate efficiently and intelligently. Anduril focuses on applying state-of-the-art AI techniques to defense problems rather than conducting AI research, ensuring rapid deployment of effective solutions.
How does Anduril address the challenge of counter-drone systems?
Anduril addresses counter-drone systems by deploying hardware like radars and cameras and rapidly iterating on algorithms to detect and classify drone threats. They integrate various countermeasures, such as jamming, shooting down drones, or using missiles, into a combined package. This approach allows them to adapt quickly to evolving drone technologies, which can be developed and deployed in months rather than years.
What is the future of defense technology according to Brian Schimpf?
Brian Schimpf believes the future of defense technology lies in autonomous systems, low-cost satellite constellations, and hypersonic technologies. The ability to deploy large numbers of satellites cheaply and operate them at scale will fundamentally change defense strategies. Hypersonic missiles and vehicles, developed at lower costs and faster paces, will also shift how the U.S. engages in conflicts, enabling long-range precision strikes and deterrence.
Why has there been a resurgence of tech companies engaging with the DoD?
The resurgence of tech companies engaging with the DoD is driven by the realization that state-on-state conflict is a real threat, as seen in the invasion of Ukraine. Additionally, the rapid modernization of China's military capabilities has highlighted the need for advanced technology to maintain U.S. defense superiority. The DoD has also become more open to working with new companies, recognizing the urgency to innovate and adapt to emerging threats.
What are the key areas where the U.S. is underinvested in defense?
The U.S. is underinvested in the ability to monitor and respond to threats across the vast Pacific region, which requires extensive sensing and operational capabilities. Additionally, there is a need to provide allied forces with tailored defense capabilities to deter invasions and protect critical infrastructure like shipping lanes and fiber optic cables. These investments are crucial for maintaining a credible deterrent and ensuring regional stability.
How does Anduril ensure ethical use of its defense technologies?
Anduril ensures ethical use of its defense technologies by maintaining clear accountability for the employment of weapon systems, with humans making critical decisions. They focus on increasing human agency and control, ensuring systems are predictable and trustworthy. Anduril is transparent about its mission to provide advanced defense solutions responsibly, emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations in developing and deploying its technologies.
- Brian Schimpf's coding passion started at age 12.
- Early work on self-driving cars at Cornell.
- Experience at Palantir working with the government in national security.
- Co-founded Anduril with Trey Stevens, Matt Graham, and Palmer Luckey in 2017.
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