Austin's SparkCognition, an AI company focused on industrial and security solutions, spun out a new company called SparkCognition Government Systems to focus on government and defense applications. It's operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of SparkCognition.
The move brings much of the SparkCognition's government- and defense-focused work into SparkCognition Government Systems, leaving the main company for commercial endeavors with its oil and gas, financial sector and manufacturing clients.
As part of the move, it set up a company board filled with former high-ranking government leaders including former General John R. Allen, former Under Secretary of the Air Force Lisa Disbrow, retired Navy Admiral John M. Richardson, former Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert O. Work and SparkCognition founder and CEO Amir Husain.
"Warfare of the future will be characterized by rapidly evolving technology, of which AI will perhaps be the most influential," Allen said in a prepared statement. "The side with the greater capacity to understand the implications of these technologies and to employ them effectively, safely and in accordance with the law will be the side that prevails."
The news follows a $100 million Series C funding round SparkCognition raised in October last year, bringing its total raised to $175 million since its 2013 founding. And much of that funding has come from major players such as The Boeing Company's Boeing HorizonX, March Capital. It also formed a joint venture, SkyGrid, with Boeing to guide drones in 2018.
