War has always been shaped by technology—from steel and gunpowder to GPS and nuclear weapons. But the decisive technologies of tomorrow aren’t coming—they’re already here.In this episode, recorded live at our third annual American Dynamism Summit, a16z’s Senior National Security Advisor Matt Cronin sits down with Ryan Tseng (cofounder & CEO, Shield AI) and Adam Bry (cofounder & CEO, Skydio) to discuss the rise of autonomous drones, AI-driven warfare, and the escalating great power competition with China. They cover:Why drones are reshaping the battlefield in Ukraine, Israel, and beyondThe asymmetry of $1,000 drones taking out $10M tanksWhy U.S. drone production lags China—and how to catch upThe ethical and tactical implications of autonomy in combatWhat it will take to reindustrialize America and maintain deterrenceIf the future of warfare is software-defined, who writes that software—and who deploys it first—matters more than ever.Timecodes:00:00: Introduction 00:45: Founders’ Journey into Drone Technology05:53: The Evolution and Impact of Drones in Warfare09:30: Challenges and Opportunities in Drone Manufacturing17:10: Policy Recommendations for Enhancing Military Capabilities21:40: Swarm Technologies and AI Superiority26:14: Challenges in Battlefield Operations32:49: The Role of Autonomy in Modern Warfare40:01: Future Scenarios of AI and Tech Dominance41:41: Advice for Aspiring Defense Tech Founders