Navy Tech Chief Outlines Investment Priorities From AI to Quantum Computing

The U.S. Navy's chief technology officer, Justin Fanelli, has outlined an updated list of technology priorities for the service, spanning artificial intelligence to quantum computing, according to comments reported by TechCrunch.

Fanelli described a shift in how the Navy approaches funding for emerging technologies, saying the service intends to co-invest alongside venture capital firms rather than solely financing early-stage research on its own, TechCrunch reported.

As an example of the Navy's recent investment approach, Fanelli pointed to a $562 million contract for autonomous refueling technology, according to the report.

The comments were framed as a pitch to investors and startup founders, with Fanelli indicating where he believes technology companies should focus their efforts going forward, TechCrunch said.

Further details of the Navy's specific technology wish list beyond the general categories of AI and quantum computing were not fully detailed in the available excerpt of the report.