Author Archive
Patrick Tucker
Technology Editor

Patrick Tucker is technology editor for Defense One. He’s also the author of The Naked Future: What Happens in a World That Anticipates Your Every Move? (Current, 2014). Previously, Tucker was deputy editor for The Futurist for nine years. Tucker has written about emerging technology in Slate, The Sun, MIT Technology Review, Wilson Quarterly, The American Legion Magazine, BBC News Magazine, Utne Reader, and elsewhere.
Emerging Tech
There’s a Big Obstacle to the Pentagon’s New Strategy to Speed AI to Troops
Defense officials want to accelerate the delivery of artificial-intelligence tools from the lab to the field. But it's hard to obtain the massive data streams that make AI work.
- By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
Emerging Tech
The U.S. Military Is Chopping Up Its Iron Man Suit For Parts
Special Operations Command’s much-anticipated super suit won’t be here for Christmas.
- By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
Emerging Tech
The Pentagon’s First AI Strategy Will Focus on Near-Term Operations — and Safety
The document is intended to make commander think through the implications of their new artificial-intelligence tools.
- By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
Cybersecurity
The Teams Who Test US Cyber Defenses Aren’t Being Tough Enough: Pentagon Report
Overworked trainers and penetration testers can’t properly simulate the worst real-world threats, leaving operators “overconfident.”
- By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
Cybersecurity
Justice Department Announces Indictments Against Huawei
U.S. officials say Chinese manufacturer flouted Iran sanctions, committed fraud, and stole robots.
- By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
Emerging Tech
How AI Will Find You In the Crowd, Without Facial Recognition
New deep learning methods tested on video footage groups of animals could be a surveillance hit.
- By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
Cybersecurity
Report: Iran Is Likely Setting Stage for International Phishing Campaign
Hackers have been methodically gaining access to domain name services that allow malware-laden emails to look like they come from legitimate organizations.
- By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
Emerging Tech
Pentagon Seeks a List of Ethical Principles for Using AI in War
An advisory board is drafting guidelines that may help shape worldwide norms for military artificial intelligence — and woo Silicon Valley to defense work.
- By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
Cybersecurity
DOJ Hits Chinese Hackers For Attacking U.S. Navy, Agencies, Companies
Hackers with the Chinese government hit 45 targets in campaign going back years.
- By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
Cybersecurity
The Government’s Bioterror-Response Website May Be Leaking Sensitive Data
Homeland Security inspectors and a whistleblower say the site, which would be used to coordinate federal responses to a bioterror attack, isn’t secure.
- By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
Cybersecurity
Russia Launched Cyber Attacks Against Ukraine Before Ship Seizures, Firm Says
Researchers claim to have uncovered Russian cyber attacks aimed at the Ukrainian military and government before and during the Sea of Azov captures.
- By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
Emerging Tech
The U.S. Military’s Drone Swarm Strategy Just Passed a Key Test
DARPA-funded drones worked together despite heavy electronic-warfare defenses.
- By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
Emerging Tech
This Inventor May Have Cured Motion Sickness Without Drugs. And That Could Mean a Lot to the U.S. Military
One manufacturer of virtual-reality trainers has already begun including the devices in its simulators.
- By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
Emerging Tech
Pentagon Wants More Money for Lasers To Defend Against Missiles, Drone Swarms
Directed-energy weapons are with a factor of two or three to being militarily useful, the Pentagon’s top scientist said.
- By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
Emerging Tech
China’s Beating the U.S. to Market on Combat Drones, By Copying U.S. Technology
America seems to have squandered a 10-year head start.
- By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
Cybersecurity
How Estonia Secures Its Electronic Elections From Kremlin Attacks
Could innovations like a volunteer infosec corps and 'data embassies' help the U.S.?
- By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
Emerging Tech
European Countries to Test AI Border Guards
A new program replaces human border guards with artificially intelligent avatars to watch for deception in travelers. It follows similar efforts that go back a decade.
- By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
Emerging Tech
U.S. Military’s Self-Flying Helicopter Program Passes Critical Test
Unmanned Black Hawks are coming. The goal is a major flight demonstration next year.
- By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
Cybersecurity
Russian Intel Chief: Internet Should Be Controlled By ‘Proper Authorities’
The FSB says it’s trying to curb extremism online — but it’s also muting foreign and dissenting voices.
- By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
Emerging Tech
China’s Moon Missions Could Threaten U.S. Satellites: Pentagon
A satellite on the far side of the moon might not be quite what the Chinese say, Air Force official warns.
- By Patrick Tucker, Defense One