AI Warfare Unleashed: Shield AI’s X-BAT, Autonomous…

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AI Warfare Unleashed: Shield AI’s X-BAT, Autonomous Combat, and the Next Arms Race

AI-powered warfare is no longer looming—it is now reshaping the global arms race from Ukraine’s deserts to Pentagon war rooms and defense startups. In a candid interview with Glenn Beck, Brandon Tseng, co-founder of…

November 8, 2025 • 3 min read • Art Grindstone

Art Grindstone is the hard-nosed storyteller behind Unexplained.co, a veteran investigator whose life’s work sits at the crossroads of the paranormal, fringe science, and the shadows most people try not to look into. With decades spent chasing impossible stories — black-budget psychic programs, vanished Cold War experiments, desert rituals that sparked UFO waves, and the strange phenomena buried in America’s forgotten backroads — Art brings a rare combination of skepticism, awe, and journalistic precision. He’s not here to debunk. He’s not here to blindly believe. He follows the evidence wherever it leads — even when it leads someplace deeply uncomfortable. Known for his immersive, cinematic style and his ability to turn obscure research into gripping narrative, Art has built a devoted following across podcasts, long-form features, documentaries, and serialized investigations. His interviews are direct. His analysis is unflinching. His voice has become a staple in the modern paranormal renaissance — the guy people turn to when a story is too strange, too complex, or too dangerous for anyone else to touch. Off-mic, Art works with a distributed network of researchers, archivists, and field operatives who help surface the stories mainstream media ignores. On-mic, he transforms their findings into meticulous, high-impact reporting that refuses to insult the intelligence of true believers. His philosophy is simple: Take the phenomenon seriously. Treat the audience with respect. Tell the story as if the world depends on it — because sometimes it does. When Art Grindstone digs into a case, he isn’t just chasing a mystery. He’s tracing the fault lines of reality itself.

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AI-powered warfare is no longer looming—it is now reshaping the global arms race from Ukraine’s deserts to Pentagon war rooms and defense startups. In a candid interview with Glenn Beck, Brandon Tseng, co-founder of Shield AI, presents a vision that seems more science fiction than policy memo. The U.S. military’s expanding arsenal of autonomous aircraft, led by Shield AI’s X-BAT, is transforming military doctrine and redefining control on today’s battlefield.

Shield AI’s X-BAT: Autonomous Drones Rewriting the Rules of Combat

Launched with great anticipation in October 2025, Shield AI’s X-BAT is a VTOL fighter drone capable of operating independently or alongside human pilots—essential to the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) initiative. Reporting by CNBC reveals that Shield AI’s Hivemind software allows the X-BAT to autonomously execute complex missions and make decisions without human input. At approximately $27 million, X-BAT delivers performance at a fraction of traditional fighter costs. Shield AI recently secured a nearly $200 million U.S. Coast Guard contract, and with its valuation surpassing $5 billion, it appears ready for mass deployment. The Pentagon’s shift toward “affordable mass” and attritability—drones disposable yet capable of strategic missions—highlights its growing attraction.

Shield AI’s rapid ascent originates from lessons learned in Afghanistan-era attrition, yet its innovative approach resembles tech sector culture, not traditional defense giants. The firm’s swift prototyping, collaborations with Palantir for advanced manufacturing, and persistent pursuit of full autonomy set it apart in the crowded landscape of U.S. defense contractors. For insights into the evolution and ethical dilemmas of these platforms, check this field report on the AI arms race and archival coverage of technology as both tool and risk in system failure analysis.

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The Global AI Arms Race: Trends, Strategy, and Deployment

The U.S. Department of Defense is not alone. As detailed in Military Embedded Systems, AI swarming, digital twins, and platform autonomy are evolving doctrine from simple navigation to fully autonomous missions, including reconnaissance, targeting, and electronic warfare. Hivemind-equipped vehicles like the MQ-35 V-BAT are already coordinating in contested zones, adapting to dynamic threats. With predictions estimating over $55 billion in AI-military investments between 2024 and 2028, the focus is shifting to strategic speed alongside lethality. The Ukrainian conflict clearly illustrates the demand for smarter, cheaper, and more agile assets—drone losses currently account for over 70% of battlefield casualties, as reported in a 2025 .