Entrepreneurial Ex-Google CEO Dives into AI-Controlled Suicide Drones Venture under 'White Stork' Brand
Revised Article:
Eric Schmidt, the ex-Google CEO, is secretly constructing a drone company dubbed "White Stork" in both the U.S. and Ukraine, according to a report by Forbes. The national bird of Ukraine serves as the inspiration for this innovative startup, aiming to peddle sophisticated AI drone technology to support Ukraine's ongoing battle.
As a bridge between Silicon Valley and the Pentagon, Schmidt has spearheaded the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, a body that, in its final report of 2021, declared AI would revolutionize warfare across all domains. Now, it appears that Schmidt is capitalizing on this vision by creating a company centered on AI kamikaze drones, crafted for Ukraine.
Schmidt, a proponent of AI drones as the future of conflict, has even shared his insights in a book, co-authored with the late war hawk Henry Kissinger. His championing of White Stork seems unmistakable.
Kamikaze drones, costing around $400 each and equipped with minimal explosives, may not seem menacing compared to the U.S. Defense Department's exorbitant budget. Yet, Schmidt considers these small devices the game-changer in defeating adversaries like Russia, even as the U.S. government is limiting deals with conventional arms merchants like Palantir.
On Monday, Schmidt penned a column titled "Ukraine is Losing The Drone War." In it, he reveals his close relationship with Ukrainian officials and the poor performance of Western weapons against Russian defense systems. Furthermore, he notes that Ukraine seeks more than one million drones from its allies in 2024 - a timely advantage for White Stork.
White Stork has been incubating through a series of shell companies, with Volya Robotics OÜ among them. Schmidt is listed as a beneficiary, and his family office serves as the sole board member. White Stork boasts a team of seasoned tech executives, including Sebastian Thrun, co-founder of Google's moonshot lab.
The advancement of AI drone technology in warfare is a growing reality, as seen in the viral video of a drone pursuit and explosion that circulated this week. The AI used in these drones enables target recognition, rejection of electronic warfare disruptions, and decoy identification. With these technologies, the presence of AI companies in warfare may become increasingly common, potentially conflicting with their controversial claims of "benefiting humanity."
(Enrichment Data: AI-enhanced drones are becoming increasingly sophisticated, thanks to advancements in target recognition, autonomous navigation, and operational advantages. These drones require less human intervention, bypass defense systems, and have higher accuracy. In Ukraine, AI drones have significantly improved the military's operational capabilities and tactical advantages. Their rapid evolution has led to innovative tactics, such as "dragon drones" that drop molten metal.
The rise of AI drones in warfare has both positive and negative implications, such as enhanced military deterrence but increased risks of unintended escalation. AI drones are also being explored in military exercises by the U.S. and its allies, emphasizing human-machine integration as a future strategy. There are concerns about ethical considerations and the potential for autonomous AI systems to make critical decisions without human oversight.)
- Eric Schmidt, the former Google CEO and proponent of AI drones in conflict, has written a column titled "Ukraine is Losing The Drone War" which was published on Monday.
- Schmidt's new drone company, White Stork, is poised to capitalize on the revolution of warfare through AI, as declared by the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence in its final report of 2021.
- White Stork has been developing AI-enhanced drones that promise operational advantages like target recognition, autonomy, and electronic warfare resilience, which could escalate the controversy surrounding the ethical implications of AI in warfare.
- As Ukraine seeks more than one million drones from its allies in 2024, the future of the tech landscape in warfare might see an increase in AI drone companies, with White Stork emerging as a warmonger, supplying AI-equipped drones to nations in conflict.
