According to Cointelegraph, European artificial intelligence (AI) defense company Helsing announced on September 14 that it had secured $223 million in Series B funding. General Catalyst, a venture capital firm, led the investment round, with Swedish aerospace and automotive manufacturer Saab participating as a strategic investor.
Helsing, founded in 2021, specializes in creating AI-powered military solutions and components. The company is involved in projects such as the upcoming NATO Eurofighter aircraft upgrade and the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) initiative. Helsing's co-founder, Gundbert Scherf, emphasized the company's commitment to advancing AI technology for the protection of democratic nations.
The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence, particularly since the introduction of OpenAI's ChatGPT in November 2022, has led to a competitive race among firms aiming to provide governments and armed forces with more efficient and cost-effective AI-driven military technologies. Companies such as San Diego-based Kratos Defense and Shield AI are also exploring the role of AI in warfare.
Generative AI, which has seen significant improvements in natural language processing (NLP) systems, is being integrated into various industries. These AI models can generate human-like text, perform language translation, answer questions, and even write creative content. Hollywood actors confirmed in a July 13 press conference that they were going on strike due to the involvement of AI in representing background performers.
