hodler

2 May 2026, 06:11

Bitcoin doesn’t need a fresh narrative to reclaim $100K: Analyst

With attention spilling into multiple other technology sectors, crypto may struggle to capture a strong, price-driving narrative, a crypto analyst says.

1 May 2026, 23:25

Replit CEO Amjad Masad Reveals Stunning Revenue Growth and Apple Battle Amid Cursor Deal Rumors

BitcoinWorld Replit CEO Amjad Masad Reveals Stunning Revenue Growth and Apple Battle Amid Cursor Deal Rumors In a candid interview at Bitcoin World’s StrictlyVC event in San Francisco on Thursday night, Replit CEO Amjad Masad shared remarkable details about the AI coding platform’s explosive growth, its ongoing dispute with Apple, and why he prefers independence over a sale. The conversation comes amid industry buzz over rival Cursor’s reported $60 billion acquisition talks with SpaceX. Replit CEO Amjad Masad Reveals Billion-Dollar Run Rate Masad disclosed that Replit’s annual revenue run rate is approaching $1 billion, a staggering leap from $2.8 million in total revenue for 2024. The AI coding assistant company has experienced unprecedented growth over the past 18 months, driven by its agentic coding experience launched in September 2024. This platform allows users to create software from simple prompts, targeting non-technical users who previously could not build applications. Replit’s net revenue retention — a measure of how much existing customers expand their spending — has reached as high as 300%. This indicates that customers are significantly increasing their investment in the platform over time. Masad attributes this to the platform’s end-to-end capabilities, which include security, databases, and deployment. Why Replit Prefers Independence Over Sale Unlike Cursor, which Masad noted operates at negative 23% gross margins, Replit has maintained positive gross margins for over a year. This financial stability allows the company to consider staying independent. “We’re going to try to stay independent,” Masad stated. “I would love for us to remain an independent company.” Masad acknowledged that Replit regularly engages with potential acquirers as a fiduciary responsibility but emphasized that the company’s economics make independence viable. He contrasted this with Cursor’s situation, where burning cash on foundation models and training makes staying independent challenging. Replit’s Customer Base and Enterprise Success Replit targets a different customer set than Cursor, focusing on non-technical users who need an end-to-end platform. The company has acquired major enterprise clients like Zillow and Meta through organic adoption. When formal bake-offs occur, Replit often wins on product and security. Masad highlighted that Replit’s full-stack approach makes applications inherently more secure. The platform’s built-in database is not open to the public, reducing security risks for non-technical builders. Additionally, Replit’s decade-long battle with crypto scammers has strengthened its cybersecurity capabilities. Replit CEO Amjad Masad Challenges Apple’s App Store Policies A significant portion of the interview focused on Replit’s dispute with Apple. The company has been blocked from updating its iOS app for months, while a rival, Lovable, recently received approval. Masad believes Apple is threatened by Replit’s ability to generate iOS apps, which could reduce reliance on Apple’s Xcode development environment. Apple’s stated reason for blocking Replit is that the app downloads new code after approval, violating guidelines. Masad called this “a lie” and stated that Replit could prove it in court if necessary. “We can prove it in court if we have to,” he said. Despite the frustration, Masad expressed hope for collaboration, noting that losing the app would not be life-threatening to the business. Impact on Replit’s Business and Users While the App Store issue is not critical to Replit’s revenue, it affects users who genuinely love the app. Masad noted that children in underprivileged communities use Replit on Android devices to learn coding, and executives use it in meetings. The platform has been on the App Store for four years, and the current blockage has frustrated many users. Replit CEO Amjad Masad on AI Model Partnerships Replit works closely with Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI. Masad ranked Anthropic as undefeated on the core agentic loop, with the best tool calling and coherence. He noted that GPT-5 is catching up quickly, while Google’s Flash family offers excellent price-performance. Masad also mentioned newer labs like Reflection AI and Chinese models like Kimi, which are competitive with earlier Anthropic models. Enterprise Wins and Churn Rates Masad reported that churn is very low, and net retention is incredibly high. Enterprises often find that rebuilding apps from Replit into their own stacks makes them worse. Bain & Company, for example, replaced Tableau and Power BI with Replit and Databricks. Customers typically see returns of one to three orders of magnitude on their Replit investment. Replit CEO Amjad Masad Considers Customer Investments Masad revealed that Replit is considering investing in its own customers in exchange for equity, similar to strategies used by Nvidia and OpenAI. He has personally invested in startups that began on Replit, such as Magic School, which generated $20 million in its first year. Other companies started on Replit are now valued at half a billion dollars. The entrepreneurship happening on Replit is genuinely exciting, Masad said. The platform recently integrated with Stripe, and transactions are growing triple digits month over month. Masad predicted that soon, Replit’s customers will generate more revenue than the company itself. Conclusion Replit CEO Amjad Masad’s interview at Bitcoin World’s StrictlyVC event provided deep insights into the AI coding platform’s remarkable growth, its determination to remain independent, and its ongoing battle with Apple. With a billion-dollar run rate, positive gross margins, and high customer retention, Replit is positioning itself as a major player in the AI development space. The company’s focus on non-technical users and enterprise security gives it a unique advantage over competitors like Cursor. As the AI coding revolution accelerates, Replit’s story serves as a compelling example of how strategic independence and product excellence can drive success in a rapidly evolving industry. FAQs Q1: What is Replit’s current annual revenue run rate? Replit’s annual revenue run rate is approaching $1 billion, up from $2.8 million in total revenue for 2024. Q2: Why does Replit CEO Amjad Masad prefer independence over selling? Masad prefers independence because Replit has positive gross margins and strong economics, unlike competitors who burn cash. He believes the company can achieve more by staying independent. Q3: What is the nature of Replit’s dispute with Apple? Apple has blocked Replit’s iOS app updates, claiming it violates guidelines by downloading new code after approval. Masad calls this a lie and says Replit can prove it in court. Q4: How does Replit’s security compare to other AI coding platforms? Replit’s full-stack approach makes apps more secure by keeping databases private and not open to the public. The platform also benefits from Google Cloud’s security model and Replit’s decade-long experience fighting hackers. Q5: Is Replit considering investing in its customers? Yes, Masad confirmed that Replit is thinking about investing in customers in exchange for equity, similar to strategies used by Nvidia and OpenAI. He has already personally invested in startups that started on Replit. This post Replit CEO Amjad Masad Reveals Stunning Revenue Growth and Apple Battle Amid Cursor Deal Rumors first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

1 May 2026, 22:59

Meta has acquired Assured Robot Intelligence to strengthen its push into humanoid robots

Tech giant Meta has begun taking steps toward its long-touted plan of making humanoid robots. The social media firm has acquired Assured Robot Intelligence and folded its team into the company’s Superintelligence Labs unit, according to reports on Friday. The financial terms were not disclosed. At its core, Assured Robot Intelligence has been working on a difficult problem, like teaching machines to better understand people. Its AI models are designed to help robots interpret human behavior and respond to it in real-world, often unpredictable environments. The startup’s co-founders, Lerrel Pinto and Xiaolong Wang, will now join Meta’s robotics push, working alongside its Robotics Studio, which was set up in 2025 to develop the building blocks of humanoid machines. Both founders bring deep research experience. Wang previously worked at Nvidia. Pinto co-founded Fauna Robotics, which was acquired by Amazon earlier this year as part of its own robotics ambitions. Meta says the new team will focus on improving how robots move, learn, and interact, particularly when it comes to full-body humanoid motion. Meta is betting on robots next Meta disclosed its plan to build humanoid robots in February last year. People familiar with the matter noted the company was forming a dedicated team from the hardware division of Reality Labs, which was initially focused on building the company’s metaverse ambitions. In 2025, Reality Labs reported operating losses exceeding $19 billion. The company has now ditched its metaverse dream and is channeling its resources toward building humanoids. Meta will initially focus on robots that will take on household chores, according to reports. As of last year, the people said Meta had no intention of immediately building Meta-branded robots to compete with Tesla’s Optimus. However, they may take on that direction later in the future. Why Meta acquired Assured Robot Intelligence Last year, Meta’s CTO Andrew Bosworth mentioned that the software to power the robots is the biggest bottleneck for the company, not necessarily the hardware. “I don’t think the hardware is the hard part,” Bosworth said during Meta’s recent Connect conference. “I’m not saying the hardware isn’t also hard, but it’s not the bottleneck. The bottleneck is the software.” Assured Robot Intelligence is focused on building AI models that drive robots. If you want a calmer entry point into DeFi crypto without the usual hype, start with this free video.

1 May 2026, 22:25

Meta Humanoid Robotics Acquisition Powers Bold AI Ambitions for Physical Labor

BitcoinWorld Meta Humanoid Robotics Acquisition Powers Bold AI Ambitions for Physical Labor Meta has acquired humanoid robotics startup Assured Robot Intelligence (ARI) for an undisclosed sum. The social media giant confirmed the deal in an emailed statement to Bitcoin World. This acquisition marks a significant step in Meta’s push to develop advanced AI systems capable of physical interaction with the real world. Meta Humanoid Robotics Acquisition: Key Details The deal brings ARI’s entire team, including co-founders Lerrel Pinto and Xiaolong Wang, into Meta’s AI unit. Specifically, they will join the Superintelligence Labs research division. ARI had previously raised an undisclosed seed round from AI seed firm Aix Ventures. The startup focused on building foundation models for humanoid robots designed to perform various physical labor tasks, such as household chores. Co-founder Xiaolong Wang previously worked as a researcher at Nvidia. He also serves as an associate professor at UC San Diego. His list of prestigious awards highlights his expertise in robot learning and control. Co-founder Lerrel Pinto taught at NYU and co-founded Fauna Robotics, a kid-size humanoid startup that Amazon acquired last month. Pinto has also won several prestigious awards for his work in robotics. Meta researchers have been working on humanoid robotics technology for years. A leaked memo from a year ago outlined Meta’s ambitions to build a consumer-focused humanoid robot, including both AI models and hardware. The ARI acquisition directly supports these goals. A Meta spokesperson stated, “This team will bring deep expertise in how we can design our models and frontier capabilities for robot control and self-learning to whole-body humanoid control.” Why Physical AI Matters for Meta AI Ambitions Many AI experts now believe that achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI) requires training AI models in the physical world. Robots learn through direct interaction with environments, not just from data alone. This approach allows AI systems to understand cause and effect, spatial relationships, and physical constraints. Meta’s investment in humanoid robotics aligns with this growing consensus. The acquisition also reflects a broader industry sprint. Market forecasts vary widely, highlighting both the potential and uncertainty in this space. Goldman Sachs projects the humanoid robotics market could reach $38 billion by 2035. Morgan Stanley estimates a much larger figure of $5 trillion by 2050. This spread shows the enormous opportunity and the challenges ahead for technology still finding its footing. Expert Insights on Humanoid AI Robots Industry analysts view this acquisition as a strategic move to secure top talent and foundational technology. “Meta is betting that physical embodiment is a necessary component of general intelligence,” said a robotics researcher familiar with the deal. “By acquiring ARI, they gain expertise in whole-body control and self-learning that few other companies possess.” The ARI team’s background in both academia and industry strengthens Meta’s position. Wang’s work at Nvidia involved developing simulation environments for robot training. Pinto’s experience with Fauna Robotics, acquired by Amazon, demonstrates practical application of humanoid technology. Together, they bring a rare combination of theoretical knowledge and real-world implementation skills. Timeline of Meta’s Robotics Journey Meta’s interest in robotics is not new. The company has invested in AI research for over a decade. Here is a brief timeline of key events: 2013: Meta hires Yann LeCun to lead AI research, establishing FAIR (Facebook AI Research). 2021: Meta reorganizes AI efforts under the new AI unit, focusing on embodied AI. 2022: Researchers publish papers on teaching robots to manipulate objects using tactile sensors. 2023: Leaked memo reveals Meta’s plans to build a consumer humanoid robot. 2024: Meta acquires Assured Robot Intelligence to accelerate humanoid development. This timeline shows Meta’s gradual but determined shift toward physical AI. The ARI acquisition represents a concrete step toward making humanoid robots a reality. Impact on the Robotics Industry The acquisition signals growing competition among tech giants for robotics talent and technology. Amazon recently acquired Fauna Robotics. Tesla continues developing its Optimus humanoid robot. Google’s DeepMind has made significant strides in robot learning. Meta’s entry into this space adds another major player to the field. For startups, this trend means increased acquisition opportunities. However, it also raises the bar for developing truly innovative technology. Investors are paying close attention to humanoid robotics companies with strong research foundations. The ARI acquisition validates the importance of foundation models for robot control. Potential Consumer Applications If Meta successfully develops a consumer humanoid robot, the applications could be transformative. Possible use cases include: Household chores: Cleaning, cooking, and organizing living spaces. Elderly care: Assisting with mobility, medication reminders, and companionship. Education: Interactive learning tools for children and students. Disaster response: Navigating dangerous environments to rescue victims. Manufacturing: Performing repetitive tasks with precision and consistency. Each of these applications requires advanced AI capable of understanding and adapting to human behavior. ARI’s technology directly addresses this challenge. Challenges Ahead for Humanoid AI Robots Despite the progress, significant challenges remain. Humanoid robots must operate safely in unpredictable environments. They need to understand human intentions and social cues. Battery life, dexterity, and cost are also major hurdles. Meta’s research team will need to solve these problems before a consumer product becomes viable. Regulatory and ethical considerations also play a role. As robots become more capable, questions about job displacement, privacy, and safety arise. Meta will need to address these concerns proactively to gain public trust. Conclusion Meta’s acquisition of Assured Robot Intelligence represents a strategic investment in the future of humanoid robotics. By bringing top talent and foundational technology in-house, Meta positions itself to lead in the development of physical AI systems. The path to AGI may indeed require robots that learn through real-world interaction. This deal moves Meta closer to that goal, while also opening new possibilities for consumer applications. The humanoid robotics market, valued in the billions today, could grow to trillions in the coming decades. Meta is betting big on that future. FAQs Q1: Why did Meta acquire Assured Robot Intelligence? Meta acquired ARI to accelerate its development of humanoid robots capable of performing physical labor. The startup’s expertise in foundation models for robot control and self-learning directly supports Meta’s AI ambitions, including the pursuit of artificial general intelligence. Q2: What technology does Assured Robot Intelligence specialize in? ARI specializes in building foundation models for humanoid robots. These models enable robots to understand, predict, and adapt to human behaviors in complex environments. The technology focuses on whole-body control and self-learning through physical interaction. Q3: Who are the key people joining Meta from ARI? Co-founders Lerrel Pinto and Xiaolong Wang are joining Meta’s AI unit. Wang previously worked at Nvidia and is an associate professor at UC San Diego. Pinto co-founded Fauna Robotics, which Amazon acquired, and taught at NYU. Both have won prestigious awards for their robotics research. Q4: How does this acquisition fit into Meta’s broader AI strategy? Meta has been researching humanoid robotics for years. A leaked memo from 2023 outlined plans to build a consumer humanoid robot. This acquisition provides the foundational technology and talent needed to turn those plans into reality, supporting Meta’s goal of achieving AGI through physical world training. Q5: What are the market projections for humanoid robotics? Forecasts vary widely. Goldman Sachs projects the market could reach $38 billion by 2035. Morgan Stanley estimates a much larger figure of $5 trillion by 2050. This range reflects both the enormous potential and the uncertainty surrounding the technology’s development and adoption. This post Meta Humanoid Robotics Acquisition Powers Bold AI Ambitions for Physical Labor first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

1 May 2026, 22:09

Crypto, tech, and software stocks rose as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed at record highs

Crypto, tech, and software stocks are rallying today because traders are buying growth names again while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite sit at record levels. The S&P 500 rose 0.29% to 7,230.12 after touching a fresh all-time intraday high. The Nasdaq Composite gained 0.89% and closed at 25,114.44, also at a record. The Dow Jones Industrial Average went the other way, falling 0.31%, or 152.87 points, to 49,499.27. Apple ( AAPL ) helped push the wider market higher, while lower oil prices gave traders one less headache at the start of the new trading month. Donald Trump had said on Truth Social that he would raise tariffs on European cars and trucks: “Based on the fact the European Union is not complying with our fully agreed to Trade Deal, next week I will be increasing Tariffs charged to the European Union for Cars and Trucks coming into the United States. The Tariff will be increased to 25%.” Trump also wrote, “It is fully understood and agreed that, if they produce Cars and Trucks in the U.S.A. Plants, there will be NO TARIFF.” Stellantis (STLA) fell more than 2% after the post, while Ferrari (RACE) lost nearly 1.5%. Tech traders buy software stocks as the sector beats the S&P 500 across every major period The technology sector gained 1.57% on the day, while the S&P 500 rose 0.29%. That is why the rally looks so concentrated. Traders are not treating every corner of the market the same. They are buying tech, AI-linked names, cloud companies, security firms, and software stocks tied to infrastructure. The longer-term numbers also show why money keeps chasing tech. The sector is up 8.34% year-to-date, while the S&P 500 is up 4.84%. Over one year, tech has gained 42.67%, compared with 29.83% for the index. Over three years, tech is up 122.43%, while the S&P 500 has gained 73.41%. Over five years, tech has returned 125.84%, compared with 72.45% for the index. The software stocks rally is also coming from infrastructure names. This group includes companies that build system software, operating systems, networking tools, cloud storage, web services, and related tech services. Microsoft (MSFT) traded at $414.44 and rose 1.63%. Oracle (ORCL) traded at $171.83 and jumped 6.47%. Palantir (PLTR) traded at $144.12 and gained 3.60%. Palo Alto Networks (PANW) traded at $181.08 and rose 0.98%. Cybersecurity and cloud names also joined the rally. CrowdStrike (CRWD) traded at $455.64 and gained 2.22%. Synopsys (SNPS) traded at $489.02 and rose 1.33%. Cloudflare (NET) traded at $217.50 and jumped 6.11%. Fortinet (FTNT) traded at $86.29 and gained 2.35%. CoreWeave (CRWV) traded at $119.01 and rose 6.64%. Block (XYZ) traded at $71.81 and gained 1.84%. Crypto stocks climb as Bitcoin gains in April, while futures drive most of the buying Crypto-linked stocks also traded higher, especially names tied to exchanges, payments, Bitcoin holdings, and mining. Robinhood (HOOD) traded at $73.69 and gained 1.1%. Coinbase (COIN) traded at $191.21 and rose 1.83%. Strategy ( MSTR ) traded at $177.28 and jumped 7.15%. PayPal (PYPL) traded at $50.43 and gained 0.58%. Block (XYZ) traded at $71.82 and rose 1.86%. Circle (CRCL) traded at $99.89 and surged 9.91%. The mining and crypto treasury board looked messier, because crypto stocks rarely behave like polite adults. IREN (IREN) traded at $45.65 and gained 0.31%. Bitmine Immersion Technologies (BMNR) traded at $21.87 and rose 2.2%. Galaxy Digital (GLXY) traded at $28.11 and gained 2.44%. Riot Platforms ( RIOT ) traded at $18.50 and jumped 7.31%. Hut 8 (HUT) traded at $76.94 and rose 1.53%. Bullish (BLSH) traded at $39.29 and gained 4.13%. Core Scientific (CORZ) traded at $20.34 and rose 1.68%. Some crypto names fell despite the wider bid. MARA Holdings (MARA) traded at $11.45 and fell 4.5%. Alliance Resource Partners (ARLP) traded at $26.15 and lost 1.73%. CleanSpark (CLSK) traded at $12.15 and fell 3.03%. Rumble (RUM) traded at $7.33 and lost 2.69%. Bitcoin gained 12.7% in April after rising nearly 2% in March. That gave it two straight winning months after five monthly losses. Ether gained 8% in April, also its second monthly gain in a row. CryptoQuant said perpetual futures were the “sole driver” of Bitcoin’s rally. Its apparent demand gauge, which tracks the 30-day change in direct Bitcoin purchases, stayed negative through April while futures demand increased. The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them .

1 May 2026, 20:25

Scout AI Raises $100 Million to Train Autonomous Military Vehicles for War – Exclusive Bootcamp Visit

BitcoinWorld Scout AI Raises $100 Million to Train Autonomous Military Vehicles for War – Exclusive Bootcamp Visit Scout AI, a defense-focused startup, has raised $100 million in Series A funding to train its AI models for military operations. Bitcoin World visited its bootcamp at a US military base in central California. The company builds autonomous military vehicles using advanced AI. Its goal is to deploy these systems in conflict zones for logistics and combat support. Scout AI Raises $100 Million for Military AI Training Scout AI announced the $100 million Series A round on Wednesday. The funding is led by Align Ventures and Draper Associates. This follows a $15 million seed round in January 2025. The company calls itself a “frontier lab for defense.” It focuses on creating AI models that can operate military assets autonomously. The startup was founded in 2024 by Coby Adcock and Collin Otis. Adcock is also on the board of Figure AI, a humanoid robot company led by his brother Brett. Otis previously worked at autonomous trucking firm Kodiak. He says the limitations of existing autonomous systems in unpredictable environments drove him to start Scout. Scout AI’s core product is an AI model named “Fury.” This model controls and commands military vehicles. Initially, it will handle logistical support. However, the company plans to expand into autonomous weapons systems. The technology builds on existing large language models (LLMs). Inside Scout AI’s Bootcamp: Training AI for War Bitcoin World received an exclusive tour of Scout AI’s training operations. The company asked us not to name the military base. At the site, four-seater all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) roam hillside trails. These vehicles are part of a training exercise. The goal is to train AI models to navigate conflict zones. The training is led by former soldiers. They put the ATVs through simulated missions. Drivers work eight-hour shifts. They log moments when they had to take control from the AI. This data is used to improve the model through reinforcement learning. The company has been training for six weeks. Scout AI uses Vision Language Action models (VLAs). These are based on LLMs and control robots. Google DeepMind first released this technology in 2023. VLAs allow the AI to connect prior knowledge to new tasks quickly. Otis compares this to a human learning to fly a drone with a headset. It is not a big leap. Autonomous ATVs in Action I drove one of Scout’s ATVs on the rutty trails. The terrain was challenging: steep hills, loose sand, and confusing intersections. I am not an experienced driver but managed a fair attempt. This shows the kind of general intelligence the company wants in its models. I also rode in the ATV under autonomous control. The vehicle accelerated faster than a human might. It hugged the right on wider trails but stayed in the middle on narrow ones. When confused, it slowed down to think. This happened several times during a 6.5 km loop. The AI is still learning, but it shows promise. Military Contracts and Applications Scout AI has secured $11 million in military technology development contracts. Clients include DARPA, the Army Applications Laboratory, and other Department of Defense customers. It is one of 20 autonomy companies used by the US Army’s 1st Cavalry Division. The division uses these technologies during regular training cycles at Fort Hood in Texas. The expectation is that proven products will deploy with the unit in 2027. The first applications of ground autonomy will be automated resupply. This includes carrying water or ammunition to distant observation posts. In convoys, a crewed truck might be followed by six to ten autonomous vehicles. This saves human labor for more important tasks. Brian Mathwich, an active duty infantry officer, recalled a recent exercise in Alaska. He led a resupply convoy in total darkness and wished for autonomous vehicles. The Technology Behind Fury: VLAs and LLMs Scout AI’s approach differs from traditional autonomous systems. Most autonomous cars operate in structured environments with rules. Operating off-road on unmarked trails is a different challenge. Otis realized this when he saw that his system at Kodiak was not intelligent enough for a war zone. VLAs offer a solution. They are based on LLMs and used to control robots. Scout AI uses existing LLMs as a base but declined to name which ones. Otis says the company has agreements with “very well known hyperscalers.” It also uses deterministic systems and other AI flavors to round out capabilities. The company expects to build its own model from the ground up in the future. Much of the new capital will go into training and compute costs. Otis believes Scout could beat existing leaders to AGI because its model interacts with the real world constantly. Scout AI’s First Product: Ox Scout AI sees itself as a software company. It builds an intelligence layer for military machines. It does not intend to make the vehicles themselves. Its first product is called “Ox.” This is a command and control software bundled on hardened computer hardware. It includes GPUs, communications, and cameras. Ox allows individual soldiers to orchestrate multiple drones and autonomous ground vehicles. Commands are prompt-like: “Go to this waypoint and watch for enemy forces.” This makes it easy for soldiers to use the technology in the field. Autonomous Weapons: A Controversial Path Scout AI is also working on autonomous weapons. It is testing drones for reconnaissance and as weapons. The drones use vision language models for intelligence. One system involves groups of munition drones flying with a larger “quarterback” platform. This platform provides more compute resources to command them. In one mission, drones would search for hidden enemy tanks and attack them. This could happen without human intervention. Otis argues that this is more precise than indirect artillery fire. Autonomous weapons are a flash point in defense tech politics. Experts note that the concept is old: heat-seeking missiles and mines have been in use for decades. Jay Adams, a retired US Army Captain who leads Scout’s operations team, says the key is how weapons are controlled. The company’s munition drones can be programmed to attack only threats in a specific geographic area. They can also require human confirmation. Adams says autonomous weapons are unlikely to fire because they are scared, unlike a young soldier. VLAs for Better Targeting VLAs offer promise for better targeting. Scout says its models are pretrained on military data. This prepares them for scenarios like running into an enemy tank during a resupply mission. Lt. Col Nick Rinaldi, who supervises Scout’s work for the Army Applications Laboratory, says automated targeting is hard. It is unlikely to be used outside constrained environments in the near term. However, the potential of VLAs to reason about threats makes them a promising technology to investigate. Scout AI’s Mission and Challenges Scout AI wears its mission on its sleeve. Executives criticize companies that are reluctant to work with the government. Google reportedly pulled out of a Pentagon contest for autonomous drone swarm control. Scout is working on similar capabilities. Otis says, “The AI people don’t want to work with the military.” He references Anthropic’s spat with the Pentagon over terms of service. He adds, “None of them are open to running agents on one-way attack drones.” Despite this, Scout uses existing LLMs as a base. It declined to say if it uses open-weight models from Chinese companies. The company expects to address this by building its own model. The founders say much of the capital will go into training and compute costs. Otis wonders if Scout will beat existing leaders to AGI because its model constantly interacts with the real world. Conclusion Scout AI’s $100 million raise marks a significant step in military AI development. The company is training its Fury model to operate autonomous vehicles in conflict zones. Its bootcamp at a US military base shows the practical challenges of this work. The technology uses VLAs and LLMs to provide general intelligence for military assets. The first applications will focus on logistics and resupply. However, the company is also working on autonomous weapons. This raises ethical and practical questions. Scout AI’s approach is controversial but driven by a belief that autonomous systems are necessary for future warfare. The company’s success will depend on its ability to train models that are reliable, safe, and effective in unpredictable environments. FAQs Q1: What is Scout AI? Scout AI is a defense startup that builds AI models for autonomous military vehicles. It was founded in 2024 by Coby Adcock and Collin Otis. Q2: How much funding has Scout AI raised? Scout AI raised a $100 million Series A round in 2025, led by Align Ventures and Draper Associates. It also raised a $15 million seed round earlier in the year. Q3: What is the Fury AI model? Fury is Scout AI’s AI model that operates and commands military assets. It is built on Vision Language Action models and large language models. Q4: What are the first applications of Scout AI’s technology? The first applications are automated resupply missions. This includes carrying water or ammunition to distant observation posts. The technology will also be used in convoys with autonomous vehicles. Q5: Is Scout AI working on autonomous weapons? Yes, Scout AI is developing autonomous weapons systems. It is testing drones for reconnaissance and attacks. The company says these systems can be programmed to require human confirmation or operate within specific geographic areas. This post Scout AI Raises $100 Million to Train Autonomous Military Vehicles for War – Exclusive Bootcamp Visit first appeared on BitcoinWorld .