#United States #Sunnyvale #Scout AI #Fury #Defense Robotics

Scout AI Emerges from Stealth

In a bold move for the future of defense technology, Scout AI Inc. has officially emerged from stealth mode, revealing its ambitious goal of developing an AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) brain specifically for defense robotics. On April 16, 2025, the Sunnyvale-based startup announced an oversubscribed $15 million seed funding round led by Align Ventures and Booz Allen Ventures, as well as contracts with the Department of Defense (DoD).

A Pioneering Vision

Founded in August 2024 by Colby Adcock and Collin Otis, Scout AI seeks to revolutionize how military robotics operate by integrating advanced AI capabilities. Having a solid background at the crossover of AI, robotics, and defense, CEO Colby Adcock brings a wealth of experience as a former tech private equity executive and a current board member at the humanoid robotics company, Figure AI. Meanwhile, CTO Collin Otis, recognized for his entrepreneurial achievements, was a key player in developing autonomy and AI technologies at Kodiak Robotics and Uber ATG.

Fury: The Future of Defense Robotics

At the heart of Scout AI's innovations lies Fury, a groundbreaking foundation model designed to transform ordinary defense robots into intelligent, autonomous agents. Unlike conventional robotics software, Fury is categorized as an embodied AI system, which means it possesses the capability to sense the physical environment, understand natural language, and execute real-time motor commands—even in environments where communication might be compromised.

“The goal is to ground AI in physical reality. By simulating human-level behaviors, we create an AI that embodies the intelligence typically seen in warfighters—situational awareness, adaptability, and physical sensibility,” explained Otis.

What differentiates Fury from established language models is its remarkable ability to perceive and act across various modalities. Instead of merely generating text output, Fury is designed to command devices. By utilizing an extensive array of real-world data, Fury enhances reasoning and precision control across a diverse range of unmanned systems, whether they operate on land, air, sea, or space. The system can be directed through natural language inputs or specifically fine-tuned for distinct mission profiles, providing a level of autonomy that approaches human decision-making at machine speed.

Rapid Prototyping and Integration

Scout AI has already brought two prototypes to life—the G01 unmanned ground vehicle and the A01 unmanned aerial vehicle—both of which operate autonomously using Fury’s capabilities at the company’s testing facilities located in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

“Physical AI represents the most significant military advantage of the modern era,” declared Adcock. “Our aspiration is to enable one warfighter to seamlessly manage multiple robotic systems, creating a cohesive command team. Attaining this level of human-machine synergy necessitates an AI like Fury that anticipates the needs of leaders and operates in unison with experienced operators.”

Scout AI firmly plants its roots in Silicon Valley, strategically building its workforce in Sunnyvale by attracting talent from the hottest sectors: self-driving technology, big tech, and defense. “We are assembling the finest engineers committed to addressing critical challenges—ensuring this AI is responsibly and securely engineered for the right purposes,” said Adcock, highlighting the urgency of outpacing adversarial technologies.

Collaboration in the Robotics Sphere

Embracing a partnership-driven strategy, Scout AI has designed Fury to be lightweight, modular, and compatible with various hardware. It can operate on minimal devices, including standard commercial cameras and low-power chips, facilitating rapid integration into current and future robotic systems. A growing coalition of robotics firms is collaborating with Scout to implement Fury into their platforms, expanding the reach of advanced autonomous capabilities without necessitating hardware overhauls.

Otis expressed excitement about the collaborative opportunities, stating, “Our objective is to enhance existing platforms with intelligence and leverage partnerships across the defense ecosystem to scale that capability effectively.”

As the company continues its rapid development and integration, Scout AI is well-poised to shape the future of intelligent defense systems, ensuring the United States maintains a leading edge in the global defense landscape. For more information on Scout AI and its groundbreaking innovations, visit scoutco.ai.