#226 Nathan Michael: The Future of AI-Powered Drones and Autonomous Warfare (with Shield AI)

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In this episode of the Eye on AI podcast, we explore the cutting-edge world of AI-powered autonomy with Nathan Michael, CTO of Shield AI.

Nathan shares his journey from academia to leading one of the most innovative companies in defense technology, revealing how Shield AI is transforming autonomous systems to operate in the most challenging environments.  

Throughout the episode, Nathan dives into Shield AI's groundbreaking technologies, including the revolutionary Hivemind platform, which enables drones and uncrewed jets to think, adapt, and act independently—even in GPS-denied and communication-jammed conditions. He explains how these systems are deployed across defense and commercial applications, reshaping intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions with unprecedented precision and resilience.  

We also discuss the future of warfare and technology, from the commoditization of AI-driven autonomy to the ethical and strategic considerations of deploying these systems at scale. Nathan offers insights into how rapid iteration cycles and resilient intelligence will define the next era of defense innovation, ensuring mission success in increasingly complex scenarios.  

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(00:00) Introduction to Shield AI and Hivemind

(03:02) Nathan Michael's journey to Shield AI

(06:07) Shield AI's mission and technology overview

(10:18) VBAT: A versatile tail-sitter aircraft

(12:44) Hivemind's swarm capabilities and applications

(14:32) Ethics and societal guardrails for autonomous systems

(17:24) Combat applications of quadcopters

(19:12) Navigating and mapping unknown environments

(20:38) Use of VBAT in Ukraine operations

(22:10) Intelligence gathering and mission versatility

(24:42) Transforming warfare with AI-driven autonomy

(28:47) Teaming and communication in autonomous swarms

(32:29) Communication networks in jammed conditions

(35:34) Coordinated exploration with autonomous systems

(38:13) Exploring buildings with quadcopter teams

(40:57) Crewed-uncrewed teaming in modern combat

(43:28) Global competition in AI and autonomy

(46:03) Use of autonomous drones in Ukraine

(50:28) Shield AI's vision: Proliferation of resilient intelligence

(55:26) Expanding AI autonomy to commercial applications