Nato has acquired an AI-powered military system from Palantir, the US software company chaired by Donald Trump-backer Peter Thiel and with strong Pentagon connections. The alliance’s choice comes amid rising anxiety among European members over a potential US withdrawal after Trump threatened to stop protecting the continent if capitals did not drastically increase defence spending. Nato is also racing to keep up with the development of AI military capabilities by rivals such as China. Palantir’s Maven Smart System (MSS Nato) uses generative AI, machine learning and large language models to provide “commanders with a secure, common operational capability” and will be used to support ongoing Nato operations, the alliance said on Monday. Nato is moving at speed to step up its defence technology capabilities. The contract took just six months to complete — “one of the most expeditious in Nato’s history”, according to the alliance — and the system is expected to be operational within the next 30 days. Nato said it completed the acquisition last month, a purchase that “demonstrat[es] a strong and abiding partnership between the North American and European technology base”.

NATO says it will start using Palantir’s Maven Smart System, which uses AI to provide “commanders with a secure, common operational capability”.