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As Co-Founder and CEO of Anduril Industries, a pioneering defense technology company, Brian Schimpf is at the forefront of integrating the power of AI and autonomy to bolster national security. With a distinguished background that includes senior engineering roles at Palantir Technologies, where he played a key part in shaping the company's Foundry platform, Schimpf brings nearly two decades of expertise in integrating cutting-edge software with defense innovation. His visionary approach has been instrumental in transforming military technology, enabling agile and tech-driven solutions that are redefining the future of modern warfare.
Brian Schimpf grew up in Rochester, New York, where he developed a fascination with engineering and robotics. He pursued this passion at Cornell University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering. While at Cornell, he led the university’s autonomous vehicle research team, which participated in the prestigious DARPA Grand and Urban Challenges. This early experience in robotics and systems design laid the foundation for his future work in defense technology and innovation.
Brian Schimpf graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering. While at Cornell, he founded and led the university's autonomous vehicle research program, overseeing teams that participated in prestigious DARPA Grand Challenges and Urban Challenges. His passion for autonomy and innovation led to the publication of several technical papers. This foundational experience laid the groundwork for his future contributions to defense technology and artificial intelligence.
Anduril is transforming the future of defense by seamlessly integrating AI with autonomous technologies, creating intelligent systems that span from battlefield goggles to space platforms, which think, adapt, and respond faster than ever before.
Combat Intelligence: Anduril supercharges the U.S. Army’s IVAS headsets by embedding its powerful AI system, Lattice, turning goggles into smart battlefield companions. With real-time threat detection, edge computing, and sensor fusion, soldiers gain instant tactical awareness, redefining combat with intelligent, augmented reality.
OpenAI and Anduril have partnered to integrate generative AI into advanced drone defense systems, marking a significant milestone in military technology. This alliance enhances battlefield intelligence while promoting the ethical use of AI, ensuring that innovation aligns with democratic values and national security priorities.
Anduril and Impulse Space have teamed up to revolutionize satellite mobility with AI-driven solutions. Leveraging Anduril’s Lattice platform, the partnership will enable highly autonomous and responsive orbital maneuvers, empowering national security missions and advancing next-generation space operations.
AI Consortium: Anduril is united to create a cutting-edge AI consortium aimed at transforming U.S. national security. By merging Palantir’s enterprise data expertise with Anduril’s edge autonomy, the initiative addresses two major defense hurdles: data readiness and scalable AI deployment, ushering in a new era of intelligent, mission-driven operations.
AI and RF Machine Learning: Anduril’s Pulsar system revolutionizes electromagnetic warfare using AI and RF machine learning to swiftly detect, adapt to, and counter threats across air, land, and spectrum domains, ensuring rapid, modular, and mission-ready defense in dynamic combat environments.
Integration of Autonomous Systems: Anduril is transforming modern warfare through the integration of autonomous systems, real-time data sharing, and decision-making at the battlefield edge. Its Lattice Mesh platform enables faster threat detection, seamless mission coordination, and efficient AI deployment across air, land, and cyber domains.
Space AI Expansion: Anduril is extending its AI and autonomous capabilities into space with plans to launch fully integrated systems. The mission focuses on real-time orbital surveillance, satellite defense, and autonomous operations, utilizing advanced software for faster and smarter in-orbit decision-making.
AI in Defense Manufacturing: Anduril is reshaping defense manufacturing by integrating AI with autonomous technologies, such as drones and surveillance towers. Its Lattice OS turns vast sensor data into instant battlefield decisions, boosting mission speed, precision, and coordination in military and border operations.
AI in Lattice Ecosystem: Anduril unveils a major leap for its Lattice ecosystem with a new developer kit, showcasing a smart, decentralized platform built for secure, uninterrupted data flow powered by Lattice Mesh, its core networking tech built to thrive in the toughest environments.
Brian led the company to a valuation of $12.5 billion and secured significant contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security. During his tenure at Anduril, he oversaw the company’s efforts to raise over $2.26 billion and develop AI-enabled defense systems, including Lattice for border security. Schimpf also played a key role at Palantir Technologies, where he was responsible for building the Foundry platform and collaborating with various intelligence and defense agencies worldwide. His strategic vision has positioned Anduril as a leader in next-generation defense technology.
Brian has faced heavy criticism for his firm’s border surveillance work, ties to pro-Trump figures, military tech ethics, and recruitment struggles within liberal Silicon Valley.
Border Surveillance: Anduril, under Brian's leadership, faced backlash for constructing surveillance towers along the US-Mexico border as part of Biden's border control efforts. This raised concerns about privacy, immigration enforcement, and Silicon Valley's tarnished reputation regarding enforcement-related projects.
Political Associations: Brian has been criticized for leading a company funded by pro-Trump billionaire Peter Thiel and Palmer Luckey, as well as being a self-proclaimed Democrat, which is seen as a departure from his Silicon Valley political pedigree.
Defense Tech Ethics: Brian building attack drones and surveillance for governments raises ethical questions about the tech community's long-standing norms of not providing advanced weapons systems to the military and national security.
Recruitment Challenges: Anduril's product focuses on national security and defense, which raised reputational issues with Brains's political supporters. Additionally, their respective contracts made it harder for Schimpf to hire liberal tech talent who were skeptical about his political affiliations and government sponsorship.
