Author Archive
Patrick Tucker
Science & Technology Editor, Defense One

Patrick Tucker is science and 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
New Chinese research examines how to get drones to target without GPS
But camera data can’t tell a drone whether hitting a target is a bad idea.
- By Patrick Tucker
Defense
Army hopes big-data techniques can help secure its clouds
“Multifactor authentication will not be enough,” said the Army’s senior cyber leader.
- By Patrick Tucker
Defense
Army looks to de-tangle its networks to combat China’s ‘digitally native’ military
By year’s end, troops should be able to jump on a network from just about any location, an Army cyber leader said.
- By Patrick Tucker
Emerging Tech
The next big space business: satellite pictures of other satellites
As space debris proliferates and new weapons appear, a new market is rising to document it all.
- By Patrick Tucker
Defense
New AI laser system to guard US capital region from unauthorized aircraft
‘The first line of defense is actually that they will beam a laser at the cockpit of the aircraft.’
- By Patrick Tucker
Exclusive
Artificial Intelligence
The Pentagon just launched a generative AI task force
A conversation with the leader of Task Force Lima reveals its objectives—and the main questions it's trying to answer.
- By Patrick Tucker
Defense
Future wars will turn on space-cyber-special operations triad: Army SOF chief
The success of information ops is “the most important lesson learned from Ukraine right now.”
- By Patrick Tucker
Artificial Intelligence
AI is supposed to become smarter over time. ChatGPT can become dumber.
‘The real takeaway is that Large Language Models are unstable,’ one expert said.
- By Patrick Tucker
Artificial Intelligence
The Pentagon’s ambitious AI plans look less and less like ChatGPT
The military needs tools that can structure data, deliver insights, and be trusted.
- By Patrick Tucker
Defense
Space Force will look at how to hack targets from space
“We're laying the groundwork for starting to figure that,” said the leader of Space Operations Command.
- By Patrick Tucker
Defense
Soldiers can now steer robot dogs with brain signals
A small sensor tucked neatly behind the ear allowed soldiers to mentally guide robotic quadrupeds.
- By Patrick Tucker
Artificial Intelligence
Soldiers Can Now Steer Robot Dogs With Brain Signals
A small sensor tucked neatly behind the ear allowed soldiers to mentally guide robotic quadrupeds.
- By Patrick Tucker
Artificial Intelligence
Don’t Expect Navy Robots In South China Sea Anytime Soon, CNO Says
Navy pursues big AI ambitions with gradual approach.
- By Patrick Tucker
Emerging Tech
Pentagon Mobilized to Support Tech Startups After Bank Failure
The failure of Silicon Valley Bank presents the Defense Department with warnings—and opportunities.
- By Patrick Tucker and Marcus Weisgerber
Defense
How the Pentagon mobilized to support tech startups after bank failure
The failure of Silicon Valley Bank presents the Defense Department with warnings—and opportunities.
- By Patrick Tucker and Marcus Weisgerber
Artificial Intelligence
Pentagon Requests Science & Tech Research Boost, But China Remains Ahead
Beijing funds much S&T research outside formal military channels.
- By Patrick Tucker
Emerging Tech
Pentagon Looking to Make Sure SpaceX Doesn’t Abandon Them in War
Spooked by the company’s new limits in Ukraine, military leaders are mulling new types of contracts.
- By Patrick Tucker
Defense
Pentagon looking to make sure SpaceX doesn’t abandon them in war
Spooked by the company’s new limits in Ukraine, military leaders are mulling new types of contracts.
- By Patrick Tucker
Artificial Intelligence
The Reaper UAV Is Getting Its Own Drone Swarm
Air Force special operators are rigging the venerable uncrewed aircraft with an ISR swarm that may take just one person to control.
- By Patrick Tucker
Emerging Tech
DARPA To Launch High-Speed, No-Runway Aircraft Program
Will it be a helicopter? A seaplane? Or a whole new thing?
- By Patrick Tucker