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Autonomous weapons, decentralized strategy, and startup speed \u2014 this isn\u2019t the future of defense, it\u2019s the now. At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025<\/strong><\/a>, Ethan Thornton, CEO and founder of Mach Industries, steps onto the AI Stage<\/strong><\/a> to talk about how next-gen defense is being built from the ground up with AI at its core.<\/p>\n Ethan Thornton<\/a> isn\u2019t your typical defense industry leader. As the CEO and founder of Mach Industries, he launched the company out of MIT in 2023 with a bold mission: to build decentralized, next-generation defense technologies that can safeguard freedom on a global scale.<\/p>\n Now leading one of the most ambitious startups in the space, Thornton is bringing a fresh perspective to an industry dominated by legacy players. His work blends frontier hardware, software, and autonomy to rethink how nations defend themselves in a rapidly changing world.<\/p>\n Mach Industries<\/a> is part of a new wave of companies proving that AI-native startups can play a critical role in national defense. This session will unpack what that means in practice \u2014 from autonomous systems and edge computing to dual-use technologies that blur the lines between commercial innovation and military capability.<\/p>\n Hear from Thornton on navigating funding, regulation, and responsibility at the intersection of tech and geopolitics.<\/p>\n With global tensions rising and investment in defense tech accelerating, this conversation offers an urgent and timely look at how artificial intelligence is reshaping security, strategy, and sovereignty. Register now to save up to $675<\/a><\/strong> before prices go up next week, and be in the room with 10,000+ startup and VC leaders shaping the next era of innovation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nInside the AI arms race \u2014 and the founder aiming to rewrite it<\/h2>\n
From startup lab to battlefield impact<\/h2>\n
AI isn\u2019t just powering chatbots \u2014 it\u2019s redefining global power<\/h2>\n