Spotify’s Daniel Ek Secures €600 Million Investment in AI-Driven Military Defense Firm

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek has invested €600 million in the AI military defense company Helsing, making it one of Europe’s largest defense technology investments. Ek’s investment firm, Prima Materia, is the lead investor in this funding round, following a controversial €100 million investment in Helsing in 2021. He emphasizes the urgency of utilizing AI and autonomy in modern warfare, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Founded in 2021, Helsing specializes in developing software systems that analyze battlefield scenarios in real-time and has contracts with several European governments. The new funds will help accelerate product development and expand Helsing’s operations throughout Europe. Ek’s previous involvement with Helsing faced backlash from musicians and Spotify users, heightened by his comments on the low cost of creating content, which many artists found insensitive to the challenges they face in the music industry.

Source link