The US Army is working with defence AI firm EdgeRunner AI to develop an onboard artificial intelligence "brain" for a new generation of autonomous military robots, as competition with major rivals over battlefield AI capability intensifies. The system is designed to let robots reason, interpret their surroundings and keep carrying out missions even if they lose contact with human operators, marking a significant step towards more independent military hardware.

Developed alongside the Army Research Laboratory, the onboard AI is built to run without relying on cloud computing or a constant internet connection, allowing it to keep functioning in contested or communications-denied battlefield environments. EdgeRunner AI's founder and chief executive, Tyler Saltsman, said the technology is intended to power the next generation of military robotic systems as part of the broader push for AI dominance among global powers.