According to a report from Forbes released on Tuesday, Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, is reportedly working on a secretive project called “White Stork,” a kamikaze drone startup operating in both the United States and Ukraine. The primary goal of White Stork is to introduce advanced AI aircraft technology to support Ukraine’s ongoing war efforts. Interestingly, the project is named after the national bird of Ukraine.
Eric Schmidt has been a key figure bridging the gap between Silicon Valley and the Pentagon post his tenure at Google. Under his leadership in 2021, the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence published a final review titled “AI will transform the way conflict is conducted in every domain.”
Schmidt’s involvement in White Stork, a business centered around AI bomber robots exclusively branded in Ukraine, seems to signify a strategic move on his part. In collaboration with Henry Kissinger, Schmidt has emphasized in his co-authored book the pivotal role of AI robots in the future of warfare, a vision that aligns with the White Stork initiative.
In a Wall Street Journal column penned by Schmidt in July, he highlighted the cost-effectiveness of Kamikaze drones, priced at around $400, capable of carrying explosives—a stark comparison to the significant expenses incurred by the United States Defense Department. Schmidt also underscored the potential of torpedo drones as a game-changer in countering adversaries like Russia, signaling a shift away from traditional defense agreements.
Schmidt’s insights, shared in another column, shed light on Ukraine’s challenges in the helicopter warfare arena and the inefficacy of Western weapons against Russian defense systems. He anticipates Ukraine procuring over a million robots from its allies by 2024, emphasizing the growing significance of AI technology in modern warfare.
Forbes reports that Schmidt has been involved in the development of White Stork through various tank businesses, including Volya Robotics OÜ, where he is listed as a beneficiary alongside his core team. Notably, Julian Thrun, a co-founder of Google’s moonshot lab, is among the tech executives being recruited by White Stork.
The emergence of kamikaze helicopter technology signifies a potential paradigm shift in future conflicts, with AI playing a central role in revolutionizing warfare. Recent viral footage of drones showcasing advanced AI capabilities in target identification and evasion underscores the increasing relevance of AI technology in military operations, challenging the conventional narrative of AI solely benefiting humanity.
