a16z Podcast

Why Speed, Not Size, Will Define the Next War

442 snips
Nov 1, 2025
Guest
Gary Shield
Guest
Horacio Rozanski
Horacio Rozanski, CEO of Booz Allen Hamilton, and Gary Shield, CEO of Shield AI, dive into how AI and autonomy are revolutionizing defense strategies. They discuss U.S. readiness for conflicts like those in Taiwan, emphasizing the need for speed over size. Key insights include lessons from Ukraine's warfare, the importance of agile acquisition, and the role of public-private partnerships in enhancing national security. The conversation also touches on certifying AI in defense, critical supply chain challenges, and the evolving needs of military technology.
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INSIGHT

Speed Trumps Size In Future Wars

  • Technological change shortens the useful life of platforms so speed matters more than size.
  • Horacio Rozanski: "Ultimately, it'll be the faster, not the bigger, that we'll win."
ADVICE

Fix Procurement To Move Faster

  • Unlock procurement speed by reforming government purchasing and program processes.
  • Gary Shield: "It just takes too long for the government to buy things today and take advantage of things."
INSIGHT

Procurement's Risk-Averse Legacy

  • The procurement system prioritizes minimizing risk, which worked when tech lifecycles were decades long.
  • Horacio Rozanski explains that this risk-averse model now slows necessary experimentation and iteration.
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