Author Archive

Patrick Tucker

Technology Editor

Patrick Tucker
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.
Data

The Pentagon Is Building an AI Product Factory

Job One for the new Joint Artificial Intelligence Center will be delivering solutions for services’ specific problems.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
Google Chairman Eric Schmidt Google Chairman Eric Schmidt
CIO Briefing

Eric Schmidt Didn’t Know That Google Was Working the Pentagon’s AI Project

The former chairman of Google was kept in the dark about the company’s outreach to the Defense Department — by design, he says.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
Emerging Tech

U.S. Army Figures Out How To Do Facial Recognition in the Dark

New method uses machine learning to extrapolate features from thermal images.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
IT Modernization

Google is Pursuing the Pentagon’s Giant Cloud Contract Quietly, Fearing An Employee Revolt

A fierce internal debate may undermine the company’s bid for the JEDI program.

  • By Patrick Tucker
Policy

This Pentagon Paper Explains Why the Trump Administration Is Reining In Tech Trade with China

The newly released paper describes how technological progress fits into China’s long-term strategic plans.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
Emerging Tech

After London, How Lasers Will Play a Role in Detecting Chemical Attacks Sooner

A new technique can detect trace elements of dangerous chemicals in extremely small doses, a breakthrough of relevance to the horror show playing out in Salisbury, U.K.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, speaks to Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, left, as Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov, second right, looks on. Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, speaks to Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, left, as Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov, second right, looks on.
Cybersecurity

Russian Military Chief Lays Out the Kremlin’s High-Tech War Plans

Robotics, artificial intelligence, and a willingness to strike the enemy’s non-military targets will figure in the country’s future strategies.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
As part of the Beam Experiments Aboard Rocket project, this neutral particle beam accelerator was launched from White Sands in July 1989 to an altitude of 200 kilometers (124 miles), operated successfully in space in July, 1989. As part of the Beam Experiments Aboard Rocket project, this neutral particle beam accelerator was launched from White Sands in July 1989 to an altitude of 200 kilometers (124 miles), operated successfully in space in July, 1989.
Emerging Tech

Pentagon’s New Arms-Research Chief Eyes Space-Based Ray Guns

Neutral-particle beams, a concept first tried in the 1980s, may get a fresh look under Michael Griffin.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
Data

Facebook Just Blocked This Cambridge Analytica Affiliate. Why Does It Still Have a State Department Contract?

Strategic Communications Laboratories worked with Cambridge Analytica, which reportedly used social-media data to target likely Trump voters.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
A masked gunman guards combat vehicles with Russian, Donetsk Republic and Ukrainian paratroopers, flags and gunmen on top, parked in downtown of Slovyansk. A masked gunman guards combat vehicles with Russian, Donetsk Republic and Ukrainian paratroopers, flags and gunmen on top, parked in downtown of Slovyansk.
Data

The Pentagon Wants AI To Reveal Adversaries’ True Intentions

The U.S. military is looking to enlist game theory and artificial intelligence to fight tomorrow’s unconventional warfare tactics.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
A Russian Soyuz 2.1b rocket carrying Meteor M satellite and additional 18 small satellites, lifts off from the launch pad at the new Vostochny cosmodrome outside the city of Tsiolkovsky. A Russian Soyuz 2.1b rocket carrying Meteor M satellite and additional 18 small satellites, lifts off from the launch pad at the new Vostochny cosmodrome outside the city of Tsiolkovsky.
CIO Briefing

The Military Race for Space Will Turn on the Ability to Choose Commercial Services

Like a befuddled consumer facing an entire aisle of jams and jellies, the Pentagon can’t figure out how to buy smart in an exploding market.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
Cybersecurity

If War Comes, Russia Could Disconnect from the Internet. Yes, the Entire Country

Robust internal networks will keep the military and government operating, says Putin’s top IT advisor.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
In this Feb. 20, 2013 photo, a cadet works at a large computer display inside a classroom at the Center for Cyberspace Research, where cyber warfare is taught, at the U.S. Air Force Academy, in Colorado Springs. In this Feb. 20, 2013 photo, a cadet works at a large computer display inside a classroom at the Center for Cyberspace Research, where cyber warfare is taught, at the U.S. Air Force Academy, in Colorado Springs.
Cybersecurity

On Offer: An Integrated Dashboard for Cyber Warfare

Lockheed previews its response to a Pentagon quest for a tool to coordinate cyber effects in the land, air, sea and space domains.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
The X-51 Waveglider USAF The X-51 Waveglider USAF
Emerging Tech

The U.S. is Accelerating Development of Its Own ‘Invincible’ Hypersonic Weapons

Russia isn’t the only country looking to build invincible hypersonic weapons. Here’s the latest on the U.S. efforts to send missiles and even aircraft five times faster than sound.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, and North Korea's nominal head of state Kim Yong Nam watch an Olympic hockey game. Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, and North Korea's nominal head of state Kim Yong Nam watch an Olympic hockey game.
Cybersecurity

North Korea Is Upping Its Offensive Cyber Operations

As Pyongyang runs out of money for missile tests, expect more hacking.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
The Fake News Game simulates propaganda tactics such as impersonation, and awards badges once a round is completed. The Fake News Game simulates propaganda tactics such as impersonation, and awards badges once a round is completed.
Data

How to Inoculate the Public Against Fake News

When people were given a toolbox of deceptive techniques and told to “play Russian troll,” they learned to reject disinformation.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
Russian President Vladimir Putin Russian President Vladimir Putin
Cybersecurity

White House Threatens ‘Consequences’ for 2017 Russian Cyberattack

In an unusual public statement, the White House fingered Russia and said it would respond with unspecified “international consequences" to NotPetya.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
Emerging Tech

The U.S. Air Force Is Giving Its Anti-Drone Efforts a Silicon Valley Twist

A new kind of investor-innovation partnership may help speed emerging technology to the front lines.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
FBI Director Christopher Wray, accompanied by CIA Director Mike Pompeo, right, speaks at a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on worldwide threats, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018. FBI Director Christopher Wray, accompanied by CIA Director Mike Pompeo, right, speaks at a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on worldwide threats, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018.
Cybersecurity

Trump Has Never Asked Us to Stop Russian Election Meddling, Intelligence Chiefs Testify

The intelligence community agrees Russia will try to influence the 2018 midterms, but they’re less clear on how to stop the Kremlin.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
A Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block 1A interceptor is launched from the USS Decatur (DDG -73) during a successful intercept test. A Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block 1A interceptor is launched from the USS Decatur (DDG -73) during a successful intercept test.
Policy

Pentagon Requesting $66M For Laser Drones to Shoot Down North Korean Missiles

The Missile Defense Agency is rushing to put more solutions in the field and trying to put past failures behind them.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One