Lockheed Martin Forms AI Subsidiary

(Reuters) – Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) announced on Monday the creation of a subsidiary aimed at helping U.S. defense companies integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into their operations.

Increased AI Adoption

Companies from various sectors have increasingly adopted AI in recent years to optimize workflows. Nonetheless, defense firms have approached AI with caution due to the sensitive data necessary for training models in this field.

Partnership for National Security

Earlier this month, the private defense tech company Anduril Industries collaborated with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI to design and implement advanced AI solutions for national security missions.

Astris AI's Focus

Lockheed's new subsidiary, Astris AI, will also concentrate on facilitating the adoption of AI solutions in some commercial applications. The subsidiary will be led by Donna O'Donnell, Astris AI's Chief Revenue Officer, who previously managed a team at Xerox (NASDAQ:XRX) focusing on automation and generative AI.

Future Collaborations

Industry leaders suggest that the planned U.S. government efficiency drive by President-elect Donald Trump, involving Elon Musk, may result in more joint projects between major defense contractors and smaller tech firms in areas like AI, drones, and uncrewed submarines.

> (This story has been corrected to clarify that Donna O'Donnell is Astris AI's chief revenue officer, not Lockheed Martin's, in paragraph 5.)