The Future of Drone Warfare

War has always been shaped by technology—from steel and gunpowder to GPS and nuclear weapons. But the decisive technologies of tomorrow aren’t coming—they’re already here. In this episode, recorded live at our third annual American Dynamism Summit, a16z’s Senior National Security Advisor Matt Cronin sits down with Ryan Tseng (cofounder & CEO, Shield AI) and Adam Bry (cofounder & CEO, Skydio) to discuss the rise of autonomous drones, AI-driven warfare, and the escalating great power competition with China. They cover:Why drones are reshaping the battlefield in Ukraine, Israel, and beyondThe asymmetry of $1,000 drones taking out $10M tanksWhy U.S. drone production lags China—and how to catch upThe ethical and tactical implications of autonomy in combatWhat it will take to reindustrialize America and maintain deterrence If the future of warfare is software-defined, who writes that software—and who deploys it first—matters more than ever.   Resources:  Find Adam on X: https://x.com/adampbry Find Ryan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryantseng/ Find Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cronin-8b88811/ See more from the American Dynamism Summit: www. a16z.com/american-dynamism-summit   Stay Updated:  Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithio Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.