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How UK Government Relies on Private Sector to Develop AI Technologies for Military Drones.
The British company Faculty AI, specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) and working closely with the UK government in critical areas such as AI safety, the NHS, and education, is now involved in developing AI for military drones. This highlights the increasing application of its technologies in defense.
Faculty, in partnership with London-based startup Hadean, is developing drone technologies for target identification, object tracking, and autonomous swarm systems. (Picture source: British MoD)
Faculty AI has gained prominence by providing AI consultancy services in the UK, differentiating itself through its approach. Unlike companies such as OpenAI or DeepMind, Faculty does not develop its models but resells existing ones, notably from OpenAI, while offering advisory services to government and industrial institutions. The company has also played a notable role in British politics, including its work on data analysis for the Vote Leave campaign during the Brexit referendum. This collaboration was followed by government contracts awarded during the pandemic, facilitated by connections with Dominic Cummings, a former advisor to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Since then, Faculty has strengthened its position as a key government partner, particularly through collaborations with the AI Safety Institute (AISI), established in 2023 under Rishi Sunak. This partnership has allowed Faculty to actively contribute to shaping government policies related to artificial intelligence.
In a joint statement, Faculty announced a partnership with the London-based startup Hadean, focused on developing drone technologies. This collaboration includes capabilities for target identification, object movement tracking, and autonomous swarm systems. Faculty stated that these projects do not involve weapons targeting but refrained from providing further details, citing confidentiality agreements.
These developments come at a time when technological advancements enable drones to independently track and engage targets without human intervention. Such capabilities align with a broader trend where autonomous weapons systems are gaining attention from governments and defense industries worldwide. Calls for clear legal frameworks to regulate the development and deployment of these systems have been made by various experts and policymakers.
Faculty also emphasizes its expertise in AI safety, honed over a decade through work addressing complex threats such as child exploitation and terrorism. Its close collaborations with government agencies underscore its role in creating robust and secure solutions.
The company has secured government contracts worth at least £26.6 million across sectors ranging from health to education. These agreements constitute a significant portion of its annual revenues, estimated at £32 million for the fiscal year ending March 31, although the company reported a loss of £4.4 million during the same period. Faculty's continued collaboration with AISI, including evaluating risks associated with large language models like those from OpenAI, highlights its central role in the UK’s AI safety strategy.
As the integration of AI into military technologies advances, Faculty AI has positioned itself as a pivotal player in this domain. Its strategic partnerships and technical expertise contribute to shaping the future of autonomous military capabilities, reflecting the growing significance of AI in national security.