Introduction

Lockheed Martin has announced the formation of a new subsidiary, Astris AI, dedicated to helping U.S. defense companies integrate artificial intelligence into their operations. This move underscores the growing importance of AI across various sectors, including the defense industry.

While companies in different industries have increasingly adopted AI to optimize their workflows, defense companies have been more cautious due to the sensitive nature of the data required to train AI models in this sector.

Partnerships and Focus Areas

In a recent development, Anduril Industries, a privately-held defense tech company, partnered with OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, to develop advanced AI solutions for national security missions. Similarly, Lockheed's Astris AI aims to enable the adoption of AI solutions not only in defense but also in some commercial applications.

Leadership and Future Outlook

Leading Astris AI as its chief revenue officer is Donna O'Donnell, who previously managed a team at Xerox focused on automation and generative AI. Industry insiders anticipate that President-elect Donald Trump's proposed efficiency drive, potentially involving Elon Musk, could foster more collaborations between major defense contractors and smaller tech firms in areas like AI, drones, and uncrewed submarines.