Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt is at the center of White Stork, a new tech startup developing kamikaze drones powered by artificial intelligence.

Operating under front companies, the project aims to provide Ukraine with advanced drone technology for its ongoing conflict with Russia. Schmidt, an industry veteran, previously chaired the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence after leaving Google. The commission published a report in 2021 stating that “Artificial intelligence will change the way war is waged in every domain.” Schmidt seems to use this vision in The White Stork.

The White Stork is a low-cost drone that costs $400 apiece and contains a small amount of explosives, according to an op-ed Schmidt wrote in the Wall Street Journal in July. In this column, Schmidt also emphasized their usability and potential military value, calling them the “most important” weapon against Russia. This coincides with the US cutting deals with traditional weapons manufacturers such as Palantir.

A recent article by Schmidt claiming that Ukraine has “lost the drone war” and predicting it will rely on millions of imported drones in 2024 further fuels speculation about vested interests.

Additionally, the fact that White Stork operates through shell companies, one of which names Schmidt as the beneficiary and the other (Volya Robotics OÜ) is under the sole control of a family office employee, increases the transparency of the project.

Sebastian Thrun, co-founder of Google X Research Laboratory, is one of the technology veterans involved in the White Stork project. The project’s impact on the Ukrainian conflict and the future of AI-based weapons has yet to be determined.