NEWS YOU CAN’T MISS

The Fighter Jet With No Pilot

Flying a military aircraft used to be much simpler: a human in the cockpit, making every decision.

That model is starting to shift. A US startup called Shield AI just raised $1.5 billion, pushing its valuation to $12.7 billion - triggered by a contract with the US Air Force.

Here’s some context: Modern air combat is too fast and complex for humans alone. Pilots already rely on software to process data, track threats, and make split-second decisions. The next step is letting software take over parts of the mission entirely.

That’s exactly what Shield AI is building. Its core system, called Hivemind, acts like a “brain” for aircraft. Instead of a human remotely controlling a drone, operators can assign a mission - and the system handles navigation, coordination, and decisions on its own, even without GPS.

That’s where the US Air Force comes in:

• Shield’s software was selected for a new program called Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).

• The idea is to deploy autonomous drones that fly alongside human pilots - supporting them in missions, gathering intelligence, and handling high-risk tasks.

• But instead of relying on one company to build everything, it’s splitting the system across multiple players. Shield AI provides the software, while Anduril (a competitor) builds the aircraft.

The funding is helping Shield expand: it’s acquiring Aechelon Technology, a company that builds flight simulators used to train military pilots.

The AI That Empties Your Wallet 💸

We’ve all been there. You open a shopping app for one thing… and end up with a cart full of “might as well” purchases.

Macy’s is now testing Ask Macy’s, an AI shopping assistant built on Google’s Gemini - and early results are mildly terrifying: shoppers using it are spending 4.75x more than everyone else. 😶

Instead of just finding what you asked for, the AI builds outfits, adds “just one more thing,” and gently convinces you that yes, you do need matching shoes. It’s less search bar, more personal hype machine.

Nearly 40% of top US retailers are rolling out similar AI assistants, all trying to keep you shopping inside their apps… and away from self-control.

Meet Fredrika Klarén, Head of Sustainability at Polestar

Celebrating this week’s Woman in Tech 🥳: Meet Fredrika Klarén, Head of Sustainability at Polestar, one of the most outspoken electric vehicle companies on transparency and carbon accountability.

Born and raised in Sweden, she grew up in a single-parent household and credits her upbringing (including being raised by a father who uses a wheelchair) with shaping her commitment to building a more inclusive future.

She studied Environmental Systems Analysis at Chalmers University of Technology, building a technical foundation in how environmental impact can be measured across industries.

Klarén began her career in sustainability within retail, working at IKEA and later KappAhl, where she rose to become Head of Sustainability, leading efforts around responsible sourcing, circularity, and environmental impact in fashion.

In 2020, she joined Polestar as Head of Sustainability, taking on the challenge of redefining what sustainability means in the electric vehicle industry.

Under her leadership, Polestar introduced detailed life-cycle carbon footprint reporting for each vehicle model, pushing the industry toward greater transparency around emissions.

She is also a leading force behind the Polestar 0 project, an initiative to create a truly climate-neutral car by 2030 by eliminating emissions across the entire value chain.

Klarén regularly participates in forums such as Climate Week NYC and European policy dialogues on zero-emission mobility.