Since leaving Google in 2017, Schmidt has been actively bridging the interests of Silicon Valley and the Pentagon, advocating for military agencies to accelerate their technology investments, particularly in AI. His recent personal missions to Ukraine have informed his new drone project, with a particular interest in the country's use of drones and quadcopters against Russia. It is unclear when the project will be launched or how it plans to compete with existing drone makers.
Key takeaways:
- Ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt is reportedly working on a stealth military drone project, aiming to provide an American alternative to Chinese drones. The project is influenced by his recent visits to Ukraine and its use of drones on the battlefield.
- Sebastian Thrun, a cofounder of Google’s moonshot lab, is involved with the effort. However, it's unclear who else is involved, when the project started, and whether Schmidt is its sole backer.
- Schmidt has been advocating for military agencies to accelerate their technology investments, particularly around AI, which he believes will play a key role in national security and China affairs.
- It's unclear when Schmidt will debut his drone project, or how he plans to compete with incumbent drone makers like Shenzhen-based DJI, which currently commands 70% of the global drone market.