In this episode of Drone Wars, Dan Magy is joined by Brett Harrison and Shaun Moore, co-founders of Tern AI, for a deep dive into one of the biggest hidden vulnerabilities in modern life—our overdependence on GPS. Drawing from elite military operations and hard-earned lessons in AI innovation, they lay out why signal-based navigation is no longer reliable—and what it means for warfighters, civilians, and the future of autonomy.
They unpack how GPS failures are already affecting real-world operations, from lost Uber drivers to compromised military missions, and explain why most "solutions" are just different flavors of the same fragile system. If you're working in autonomy, logistics, or national security, this episode is a critical look at the next battlefield: positioning.
Whether you're a founder, policymaker, or defense insider, this one is full of real-world urgency and sharp technical insight.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction and Background of Participants
01:50 – GPS in Modern Tech and Why It’s Failing
04:30 – Brett’s Journey: From Special Ops to Real Estate to Defense Tech
07:30 – Sean’s Start in Facial Recognition and Startup Lessons
13:20 – The Shot That Started Tern AI
17:59 – Why GPS Dependency is a National Risk
18:15 – Building Positioning Without Signal
18:31 – Military and Commercial Applications
20:38 – Future Plans: Scaling Across Vehicles, Terrain, and Use Cases
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About Drone Wars
Firestorm Studios brings you The Drone Wars Podcast, a show that explores all facets of autonomous systems - ground, air, and sea - and their transformative impact on various aspects of human life, from agriculture to warfare. We feature interviews with CEOs, founders, and C-suite executives from the world's leading autonomy and robotics companies.
