HP to bundle offline AI software with new PCs for military and critical industries
Most chatbot tools stop working when an internet connection drops. EdgeRunner AI is designed to keep running offline, and HP is now partnering with the company to bring its software to new computers.
EdgeRunner first demonstrated more than two years ago that its technology could operate missile defense systems and satellites without an internet connection. The company later tested an offline chatbot with U.S. soldiers, giving them access to mission-related information in the field without exposing the system to enemy networks or hackers.
Under the new partnership, HP plans to offer computers with EdgeRunner’s locally run AI software to the military, federal agencies and businesses in critical industries, CEO Tyler Saltsman said. The software is designed to work without a high-bandwidth connection or cloud access, keeping information on the device.
Saltsman said customers will be able to buy the EdgeRunner package with their computer, pre-installed and ready to use. In sensitive settings, he said, the system avoids sending data to the cloud, offers continued access without a network connection and uses an AI model trained on relevant military doctrine and operational information.
Saltsman has argued that the privacy benefits of offline AI matter to ordinary consumers, too. He said many commercial AI services run in the cloud, meaning users’ information is sent to outside servers and access may depend on both an internet connection and usage-based fees.
He has also questioned why major AI providers require users to stay online, suggesting the companies want access to people’s data and prompts to learn more about them. His view, he said, has not changed.
HP’s U.S. public sector head, Todd Gustafson, said the partnership will combine HP’s computing platforms with EdgeRunner’s specialized AI to develop configurations for demanding environments.
Saltsman said HP’s distribution network could help bring AI tools designed for military operations to soldiers in the field. He also urged consumers, businesses and governments to develop strategies for AI systems they can control locally, adding that users should assume information shared with an AI provider could be used for training.
