Pete Hegseth Unveils Innovative Defense Strategy to Position the US as a Leader in AI
FACE geopolitical strategist and founder Velina Tchakarova joins ‘Making Money’ to discuss the escalating Iran protests, the strategic importance of Greenland, and winning the race for AI.
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth announced on Monday a bold initiative aimed at positioning the U.S. as a global leader in artificial intelligence, drones, and space technology. He emphasized that a risk-averse culture has hindered innovation, preventing the Pentagon from equipping its service members with the best resources available.
Speaking alongside SpaceX CEO Elon Musk at the company’s facility in Brownsville, Texas, Hegseth unveiled a comprehensive strategy to enhance the Pentagon’s technological capabilities. “Today is about how we supercharge innovation at the War Department for the era ahead,” he stated. “Innovation is happening at a pace we can’t even foresee, and we need the entire enterprise to embrace the urgency required for this moment.” He noted that since the end of the Cold War, the defense industrial base in the U.S. has consolidated, making it challenging for new innovators to secure contracts with the department.
TRUMP SIGNS ORDER TO BLOCK DEFENSE COMPANIES FROM BUYING BACK STOCK UNTIL ARMS PRODUCTION IMPROVES
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth spoke alongside SpaceX CEO Elon Musk at the company’s facility in Brownsville, Texas. (Getty Images / Getty Images)
“The result is a risk-averse culture that prevents us from providing our warfighters with the best resources that America has to offer,” Hegseth continued. “That ends today. Simply put, the United States must win the strategic competition for 21st-century technological supremacy, including artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, quantum hypersonics, and long-range drones.” He acknowledged Musk’s insights on the importance of hypersonics and long-range drones, stating, “He’s 100% correct. Space capabilities, directed energy, and biotechnology are the new areas of global competition.”
Hegseth introduced an “AI acceleration strategy” designed to maintain the U.S. lead in military AI, a lead established during President Donald Trump’s first term. “This strategy will unleash experimentation, eliminate bureaucratic barriers, focus on investments, and demonstrate the execution approach needed to ensure we lead in military AI and that it grows more dominant into the future,” he explained. “In short, we will win this race by becoming an AI-first warfighting force across all domains, from the back offices of the Pentagon to the tactical edge on the front lines.”
Pentagon chief Hegseth announced an “AI acceleration strategy” that he said will extend the U.S. lead in military AI established during the first Trump administration. (Getty Images / Getty Images)
He further elaborated that the “catalyst for this acceleration will be seven pace-setting projects focused on mission threads across warfighting, intelligence, and enterprise missions, each with a single, accountable leader, aggressive timelines, and measurable outcomes.” Hegseth also addressed the consolidation of the U.S. defense industrial base, which he claims has created a closed innovation ecosystem dominated by a few prime contractors. He vowed to end this trend and promote tech startups.
TRUMP’S CALL FOR $1.5 TRILLION DEFENSE BUDGET WOULD ADD TRILLIONS TO DEBT: CRFB
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth announced a plan aimed at making the U.S. a global leader in AI, drones, and space technology. (Getty Images / Getty Images)
“Today, that old era comes to an end,” he declared. “The Department of War is reopening to the disruptive energy and agile creativity of our nation’s tech startups, funded by our world’s leading capital markets.” Hegseth criticized the previous organizational structure, which he described as fragmented and siloed, leading to inefficiencies and confusion. “The result is duplication, drift, and confusion,” he concluded.
FACE geopolitical strategist and founder Velina Tchakarova joins ‘Making Money’ to discuss the escalating Iran protests, the strategic importance of Greenland, and winning the race for AI.
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth announced on Monday a bold initiative aimed at positioning the U.S. as a global leader in artificial intelligence, drones, and space technology. He emphasized that a risk-averse culture has hindered innovation, preventing the Pentagon from equipping its service members with the best resources available.
Speaking alongside SpaceX CEO Elon Musk at the company’s facility in Brownsville, Texas, Hegseth unveiled a comprehensive strategy to enhance the Pentagon’s technological capabilities. “Today is about how we supercharge innovation at the War Department for the era ahead,” he stated. “Innovation is happening at a pace we can’t even foresee, and we need the entire enterprise to embrace the urgency required for this moment.” He noted that since the end of the Cold War, the defense industrial base in the U.S. has consolidated, making it challenging for new innovators to secure contracts with the department.
TRUMP SIGNS ORDER TO BLOCK DEFENSE COMPANIES FROM BUYING BACK STOCK UNTIL ARMS PRODUCTION IMPROVES
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth spoke alongside SpaceX CEO Elon Musk at the company’s facility in Brownsville, Texas. (Getty Images / Getty Images)
“The result is a risk-averse culture that prevents us from providing our warfighters with the best resources that America has to offer,” Hegseth continued. “That ends today. Simply put, the United States must win the strategic competition for 21st-century technological supremacy, including artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, quantum hypersonics, and long-range drones.” He acknowledged Musk’s insights on the importance of hypersonics and long-range drones, stating, “He’s 100% correct. Space capabilities, directed energy, and biotechnology are the new areas of global competition.”
Hegseth introduced an “AI acceleration strategy” designed to maintain the U.S. lead in military AI, a lead established during President Donald Trump’s first term. “This strategy will unleash experimentation, eliminate bureaucratic barriers, focus on investments, and demonstrate the execution approach needed to ensure we lead in military AI and that it grows more dominant into the future,” he explained. “In short, we will win this race by becoming an AI-first warfighting force across all domains, from the back offices of the Pentagon to the tactical edge on the front lines.”
Pentagon chief Hegseth announced an “AI acceleration strategy” that he said will extend the U.S. lead in military AI established during the first Trump administration. (Getty Images / Getty Images)
He further elaborated that the “catalyst for this acceleration will be seven pace-setting projects focused on mission threads across warfighting, intelligence, and enterprise missions, each with a single, accountable leader, aggressive timelines, and measurable outcomes.” Hegseth also addressed the consolidation of the U.S. defense industrial base, which he claims has created a closed innovation ecosystem dominated by a few prime contractors. He vowed to end this trend and promote tech startups.
TRUMP’S CALL FOR $1.5 TRILLION DEFENSE BUDGET WOULD ADD TRILLIONS TO DEBT: CRFB
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth announced a plan aimed at making the U.S. a global leader in AI, drones, and space technology. (Getty Images / Getty Images)
“Today, that old era comes to an end,” he declared. “The Department of War is reopening to the disruptive energy and agile creativity of our nation’s tech startups, funded by our world’s leading capital markets.” Hegseth criticized the previous organizational structure, which he described as fragmented and siloed, leading to inefficiencies and confusion. “The result is duplication, drift, and confusion,” he concluded.
