Artificial intelligence firms Shield AI, Heron Systems join forces

Shield AI announced on 22 July that it has acquired Heron Systems, bringing together two US software companies that are developing artificial intelligence (AI) pilots for military aviation. "Together, Shield AI and Heron will accelerate the deployment of advanced AI pilots to legacy and future military aircraft – an urgent and necessary step towards achieving national security priorities and remaining credible in the face of sophisticated peer countries," the announcement says. Heron Systems made headlines last year when its AI software defeated a human US Air Force F-16 pilot 5-0, and five other AI pilots, during the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA's) AlphaDogfight Trials. "Heron has developed the most advanced AI pilot for fighter aircraft in the United States," Shield AI co-founder and CEO Ryan Tseng said. Heron general manager Brett Darcey said that joining a larger company like Shield AI will provide "the opportunity and scale to accelerate the integration of our AI pilot on a next-generation fighter" and unmanned aircraft systems (UASs).