Short answer: Jordan Metzner says a founder who sold his last company to DoorDash is building a turret, installed on a flatbed truck, that senses drones and shoots them down, part of a wave of US defense technology.
Watch this answer from Episode 15 (starts at 24:06) · Episode 15 notes and transcript
From Episode 15: Sora 2 Took Over AI Video + Our New Parking Data Tool, starting at 24:06.
Jordan Metzner [24:06]: One last story here. I thought this was really interesting. This guy's name is, Steve Simone, and he sold his last company to DoorDash, and he's now working on an AI robot that shoots down drones. And I thought this was pretty cool simply just because kinda if he changed the space and, this is kind of a new type of investment using AI for security and defense. As you know, Israel has had its Iron Dome system for years, but we're starting to see more and more companies kind of build out US defense technology. And I thought this was a pretty cool one as well. So he's building these like automatic devices that shoot down drones in the case of some military issues or things like that. So, anyway, I just wanted to see this is what it looks like.
Sam Nadler [24:56]: The use of drone warfare has, like, rapidly increased with, the conflict in Russia and Ukraine. I'm sure it's being used in other places. But how does it shoot it down? Is it, like, bullets, or is it some sort of net or lasers? Or had I haven't seen this article yet. So how does it work?
Jordan Metzner [25:11]: I know it's like this turret that I don't know if it's using bullets or what it uses, but it's using this turret that sits like you install it on the back of a flatbed truck, and then this thing kind of senses for them and shoots them down. But I you know, yeah, like you said, we're moving into a warfare state where, these wars are being fought by drones. And so, shooting drones down seems like a defensive mechanism. But yeah. Anyway, I just thought it was pretty interesting how AI is, entering the defense space, and this is just a good proof of that.
Sam Nadler [25:41]: Well, thanks, Jordan. Entertaining as always. And don't forget to like and subscribe to Built This Week. New episodes every Friday. And any closing thoughts?
Jordan Metzner [25:53]: Yeah. Awesome episode. Again, we're we're rolling into the fall season. And, AI is still heating up, I think. We're seeing NVIDIA continue to hit market highs. Stock market is still ripping. We have government shutdown this week, yet, the market is still hitting highs. So it still seems like the early days for AI. Regardless of what happens in, like, the overall economy, it seems like this AI train is is gonna continue to chug along and, in fact, be the driver that probably moves the market forward for sure. But, yeah, this was a great episode. Really fun to talk about some of these toys. Really having a lot of fun with Sora. We have put together a little Sora best of clip from this episode. So hopefully, can chop that up and play that in here somewhere. But thanks everyone for listening. Like Sam said, like and subscribe on YouTube and all your other favorite podcast platforms. For Sam, I'm Jordan. So much and see you next week.
Sam Nadler [26:51]: Thanks everyone.
Jordan Metzner [26:52]: Bye everyone.
