Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has founded a new secretive military drone company called White Stork, which has begun testing its AI-guided aircraft in Menlo Park and Ukraine. The company’s development involves using artificial intelligence to help drones home in on battlefield targets, with Schmidt actively involved in testing drone prototypes with the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. Schmidt, who has held a government security clearance, has been praised by Ukrainian officials for his involvement in defense tech development in the country.
White Stork’s drone development has been aided by a team of notable hires, including former employees of Apple, SpaceX, Google, federal government agencies, and Schmidt’s own philanthropic organization, Schmidt Futures. The team’s expertise spans machine learning, aerospace, supply chains, and procurement, with Silicon Valley luminaries like Sebastian Thrun advising on the project. Schmidt’s drone project has also recruited individuals with experience in satellite imagery, laser communications, defense trade controls, and aerospace engineering, working on developing AI-enabled visual targeting software for the drones.
Despite public visits to Ukraine and prominent op-eds about the conflict, Schmidt has operated his drone project in stealth, recently rebranding it as “Project Eagle.” The venture’s operations are shrouded in secrecy, with multiple associated companies and LLCs obscuring its activities. Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Schmidt has positioned himself as a thought leader on the conflict, writing about the use of AI-empowered kamikaze drones in warfare and the reality facing ground troops and drone pilots in the conflict zone.
With a widening roster of high-profile talent poached from tech giants like Apple, SpaceX, and Google, Eric Schmidt’s drone project is making headlines in the defense tech industry. The project, originally named White Stork, has been rebranded as “Project Eagle” and has accelerated its development, testing AI-guided drones both in Menlo Park and on the frontlines of the war in Ukraine. Schmidt’s involvement in defense tech development in Ukraine has earned him praise from officials in the country, highlighting his commitment to advancing military technology in the region.
The team working on Project Eagle includes experts in machine learning, aerospace, supply chains, and procurement, with Silicon Valley luminaries like Sebastian Thrun providing advisory roles. Schmidt’s drone project has also recruited individuals with experience in satellite imagery, laser communications, defense trade controls, and aerospace engineering, developing AI-enabled visual targeting software for the drones. Despite the project’s stealth operations and use of associated companies to obscure its activities, Schmidt has emerged as a vocal commentator on the conflict in Ukraine, writing about the use of AI-powered drones in modern warfare and the reality facing troops and drone pilots on the frontline.
Overall, Eric Schmidt’s drone project, now known as “Project Eagle,” is making waves in the defense tech industry, with a team of high-profile talent from top tech companies driving its development. Despite operating in secrecy and through associated companies, the project has attracted attention for its testing of AI-guided drones in Menlo Park and Ukraine. Schmidt’s involvement in defense tech development in Ukraine has earned him praise from officials in the country, showcasing his dedication to advancing military technology on the frontlines of conflict.
