OpenAI Deploys Custom ChatGPT for U.S. Defense, $237M RAPID ARA Initiative Launched

Hi there,

Welcome to this week's edition of Defense AI Brief.

In today's newsletter, we delve into significant advancements and investments in AI technologies within the defense sector. Vanderbilt University Institute of National Security has received a $2.5 million grant from the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation to further research in AI applications for information warfare and misinformation resilience. Meanwhile, Helsing and Stark have secured major contracts from the German military for the development of unmanned drones, supported by notable figures like Daniel Ek and Peter Thiel.

Additionally, olee.space has unveiled an AI-powered laser sniper in India, designed for autonomous operation in close combat scenarios. In the realm of funding, Occam Industries has raised €3 million to enhance its autonomous drone technology, while NUBURU has announced a $12 million public offering to support its AI-driven defense initiatives. These stories highlight the growing emphasis on AI in defense, reflecting both technological innovation and strategic investments.

Vanderbilt University Receives $2.5M Grant for AI Research

The Vanderbilt University Institute of National Security has been awarded a $2.5 million grant by the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation to advance research on AI-driven influence operations and combat misinformation. Read more

Helsing and Stark Win German Military Drone Contracts

The German military has awarded significant contracts to Helsing and Stark for unmanned drones, with backing from Daniel Ek and Peter Thiel. Read more

India Unveils AI-Driven Laser Sniper on UGV

India has introduced a compact AI-powered laser sniper developed by olee.space, mounted on an unmanned ground vehicle. This advanced weapon system is designed for autonomous operation and rapid target neutralization. Read more

Occam Industries Raises €3 Million for Drone Development

London-based defence tech startup Occam Industries has secured €3 million in funding to advance its autonomous drone technology for GPS-denied environments, with initial testing in Ukraine. Read more

NUBURU Announces $12 Million Public Offering for Defense Initiatives

NUBURU, Inc. has announced a public offering of approximately $12 million to support its Defense & Security Transformation Plan, focusing on drone technologies and other defense initiatives. Read more

V2X Inc. Secures $100 Million in AI Contracts

V2X Inc. has obtained contracts worth $100 million to enhance its AI capabilities for national security. Read more

Fortem Technologies Wins Contract for 2026 World Cup

Fortem Technologies has been awarded a multimillion-dollar contract by the Department of Homeland Security to provide counter-drone protection at U.S. venues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Read more

Farsight Vision Raises $7.2M for Drone Autonomy

Ukrainian-Estonian startup Farsight Vision has secured €7.2 million in seed funding to advance its AI-driven drone autonomy technology. Read more

Lux Capital and Flutterwave CEO Invest in Terrahaptix

Nigerian startup Terrahaptix Inc. has secured $22 million in funding from Lux Capital and Flutterwave CEO Olugbenga Agboola to expand its drone production capabilities. Read more

Swarm Defense Technologies Joins $1.1 Billion Drone Program

Swarm Defense Technologies has been selected to participate in the U.S. Department of War's $1.1 billion Drone Dominance Program, focusing on deploying attack drone systems. Read more

OpenAI Deploys Custom ChatGPT for U.S. Department of Defense

OpenAI has launched a custom version of ChatGPT on GenAI.mil, a secure AI platform for the U.S. Department of Defense. This deployment aims to improve operational efficiency and readiness for 3 million personnel. Read more

OpenAI to Provide Voice Tech for Pentagon Drone Challenge

OpenAI has been selected to supply voice control technology for a Pentagon project focused on developing software for drone swarms. The initiative is part of a $100 million challenge to convert voice commands into digital instructions for drones. Read more

Capgemini Targets AI for 2026 Growth

Capgemini is focusing on artificial intelligence to drive revenue growth by 2026, with plans to increase sales by 6.5% to 8.5%. The company is collaborating with Microsoft and Alphabet to enhance its AI capabilities. Read more

Stark Raises Funding, Valuation Over 1.2 Billion Euros

German armed drone startup Stark has secured a new funding round, boosting its valuation to over 1.2 billion euros. The investment positions the company for significant contracts with the German armed forces. Read more

Windward Launches Maritime Intelligence Operations Center

Windward has introduced its Maritime Intelligence Operations Center (MIOC) to deliver maritime intelligence for various sectors, using Maritime AI™ and multi-source intelligence to improve decision-making amid geopolitical tensions. Read more

US Air Force Integrates Autonomous Software in Combat Aircraft

The US Air Force has integrated autonomous software from Collins Aerospace into its prototype collaborative combat aircraft, enhancing semiautonomous flight capabilities and operational flexibility. Read more

U.S. Air Force Launches $237M RAPID ARA Initiative

The U.S. Air Force has launched the RAPID program to enhance AI in intelligence analysis, with a budget of $237 million. The initiative seeks white papers for developing secure information sharing technologies. Read more

US Military Uses Anthropic's AI in Venezuela Raid

The US military reportedly deployed Anthropic's AI model Claude in a raid targeting Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, resulting in significant casualties. This event highlights the use of AI in military operations and raises ethical concerns. Read more

Shield AI Seeks $1 Billion Funding to Double Valuation

Shield AI is in discussions to secure up to $1 billion in funding, potentially increasing its valuation to $12 billion. The company focuses on AI software for autonomous vehicles and drones amid rising global defense budgets. Read more

Auterion and Airlogix Announce AI-Guided Drone Venture

During the Munich Security Conference, Auterion and Airlogix revealed a joint venture to produce AI-guided drones for Ukraine and NATO allies, with support from the German and Ukrainian governments. Read more

Pentagon Requests $13.4 Billion for AI Defense Technologies

The Pentagon has requested $13.4 billion for AI-driven platforms, marking its first standalone budget for autonomy in military domains. This includes investments in autonomous vehicle coordination software and consolidates helicopter pilot training contracts. Read more

Categories

Companies

Resources

OpenAI Deploys Custom ChatGPT for U.S. Defense, $237M RAPID ARA Initiative Launched - Defense AI Brief #29

We hope you enjoyed this article.

More from: Defense

Subscribe to Defense AI Brief