Hewlett-Packard Just Got $2 Billion to Make an AI Surveillance System for the NSA

Domestic surveillance programs may be in for an AI upgrade. The National Security Agency of the United States just awarded a $2 billion contract to Hewlett Packard Enterprise to develop high-performance computing power that the agency will use to reach its data analytics and artificial intelligence needs, according to a Wednesday statement from the company. However, it's important to keep in mind that the NSA has repeatedly pushed for access to private information from telecommunications companies and internet servers, which could mean a major upgrade is in store for the surveillance of ordinary people. During the course of the 10-year contract, the NSA will pay to employ HSE's computing technology, which will also build a new platform that will blend the company's ProLiant servers with its Apollo data storage system. Combined, the new system will "ingest and process high volumes of data, and support deep learning and artificial intelligence capabilities," read the company press release.