"The company focuses on autonomous drones and AI pilots for use in combat and in contexts where communications may be down or jammed. Its technology enables the surveillance, mapping, and monitoring of spaces (such as inside buildings) without the need for human intervention. Unlike its competitor, Skydio, Shield AI has been focused on military objectives from the beginning, yet its defence tech has also been sold for maritime, policing, and border control operations."
"In 2016, Shield AI received $1m in seed funding to develop prototype technologies from the Naval Special Warfare Command and the Defense Innovation Unit, the latter being a Pentagon-run, Silicon Valley-based organisation which helps the US military accelerate "the adoption of commercial and dual-use technology to solve operational challenges at speed and scale." That same year, it was awarded a $200k contract with the US Department of Homeland Security to enhance border surveillance through the use of drones,"
"The company has since grown its catalogue of products through the acquisition of several companies, such as Heron Systems, which specialised in AI-fighter aircraft. Capitalising on geopolitical tensions, and the US' desire to compete with Chinese AI defence tech - the San Diego-based company has grown rapidly, opening offices in Norway, Australia, Ukraine, Taiwan and London in 2025 alone. Market reports show that Shield AI generated a revenue of $267m in 2024, up 64% from 2023"
Shield AI was founded in 2015 by Ryan and Brandon Tseng and Andrew Reiter to deploy AI pilots across military assets by 2030. The company builds autonomous drones and AI pilots designed for combat and contested communications environments, enabling surveillance, mapping, and indoor monitoring without human intervention. Early support included $1m in seed funding from Naval Special Warfare Command and the Defense Innovation Unit and a $200k DHS contract for border-surveillance drones. Growth involved acquisitions such as Heron Systems for AI-fighter capabilities and rapid international expansion into Norway, Australia, Ukraine, Taiwan and London, with reported revenue of $267m in 2024, up 64% year-on-year.
Read at Privacy International
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