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AeroTime • Stephen Pope

Greg Mercer backs Skytron — four-seat fly-by-wire personal aircraft to reduce pilot error

Silicon Valley entrepreneur Greg Mercer is backing Skytron, a four-seat fly-by-wire personal aircraft designed to reduce pilot workload and prevent human-error accidents. Skytron centres on automated flight controls and pilot-assist systems to make personal flying safer for less-experienced operators.

2026-01-23T13:40:56.917220-08:00

The War Zone

Inside Anduril’s Bolt‑M: USMC orders ML‑driven loitering munition and scale‑up plan

2026-01-23T10:11:53.478727-08:00

Aviation Today

Trust but Verify at 35,000 Feet: Making AI Earn Its Wings in Avionics

2026-01-22T14:34:55.983186-08:00

Aviation Today

USMC awards Northrop Grumman $232M MUX TACAIR CCA contract; Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie to be missionized

2026-01-22T14:12:38.986201-08:00

News Timeline

AeroTime

Greg Mercer backs Skytron — four-seat fly-by-wire personal aircraft to reduce pilot error Silicon Valley entrepreneur Greg Mercer is backing Skytron, a four-seat fly-by-wire personal aircraft designed to reduce pilot workload and prevent human-error accidents. Skytron centres on automated flight controls and pilot-assist systems to make personal flying safer for less-experienced operators.

2026-01-23T13:40:56.917220-08:00

Greg Mercer backs Skytron — four-seat fly-by-wire personal aircraft to reduce pilot error

The War Zone

Inside Anduril’s Bolt‑M: USMC orders ML‑driven loitering munition and scale‑up plan Anduril’s Bolt‑M loitering munition — a machine‑learning‑infused 'kamikaze' drone — has been ordered by the U.S. Marine Corps. This report explains how Bolt‑M’s autonomy and edge‑ML targeting work, and outlines Anduril’s manufacturing strategy to rapidly produce and field expendable strike systems at operational scale.

2026-01-23T10:11:53.478727-08:00

Inside Anduril’s Bolt‑M: USMC orders ML‑driven loitering munition and scale‑up plan

Aviation Today

Trust but Verify at 35,000 Feet: Making AI Earn Its Wings in Avionics Artificial intelligence already operates aboard commercial airliners—often unadvertised—with algorithms used to optimize flight paths and flag anomalies. The industry is wrestling with how to 'trust but verify' AI in avionics, pressing for robust validation, transparency and operational safeguards before broader deployment.

2026-01-22T14:34:55.983186-08:00

Trust but Verify at 35,000 Feet: Making AI Earn Its Wings in Avionics

Aviation Today

USMC awards Northrop Grumman $232M MUX TACAIR CCA contract; Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie to be missionized The U.S. Marine Corps has awarded Northrop Grumman a $232 million contract under the MUX TACAIR Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) effort to develop a missionized variant of Kratos’ XQ‑58A Valkyrie. Kratos’ Valkyrie will serve as the starting airframe for the service’s uncrewed combat-aircraft work.

2026-01-22T14:12:38.986201-08:00

USMC awards Northrop Grumman $232M MUX TACAIR CCA contract; Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie to be missionized

FlightGlobal

Shield AI begins wind-tunnel testing of X‑Bat tail‑sitting autonomous tactical jet Shield AI has started wind‑tunnel testing of its X‑Bat tail‑sitting uncrewed tactical jet, three months after unveiling the platform. The aircraft will operate using the company’s Hivemind AI autonomy software as Shield pushes toward VTOL demonstrations and full flight testing milestones.

2026-01-22T08:10:30.684429-08:00

Shield AI begins wind-tunnel testing of X‑Bat tail‑sitting autonomous tactical jet

Skift

EngageAI uses WhatsApp to nudge business travellers toward cheaper, faster, lower‑carbon trips (1M users projected) EngageAI, an AI-driven tool that sends real-time trip suggestions via WhatsApp, nudges corporate travellers toward cheaper, faster and lower‑carbon options. Projecting 1 million users in its first year, the service could shift business booking flows and intensify competition among carriers for corporate traffic.

2026-01-22T07:28:12.245425-08:00

EngageAI uses WhatsApp to nudge business travellers toward cheaper, faster, lower‑carbon trips (1M users projected)

SpaceWatch Global

WEF 2026 — Rendezvous Robotics' Joe Landon on modular on‑orbit construction and robotics At WEF 2026, Kelly Soverns interviews Joe Landon, co‑founder and president of Rendezvous Robotics, about modular on‑orbit construction and robotic systems. The conversation focuses on Rendezvous’s approach to in‑space assembly, autonomous servicing and technological building blocks for orbital infrastructure.

2026-01-22T01:38:41.962593-08:00

WEF 2026 — Rendezvous Robotics' Joe Landon on modular on‑orbit construction and robotics

Skift

Apple to Replace Siri with Generative AI Chatbot — Developer Access Will Decide Travel Impact Apple plans to replace Siri with a generative AI chatbot across iPhones, iPads and Macs later this year, Bloomberg reports. Developer access will determine how travel apps and airlines can integrate the assistant into bookings and itineraries, and whether it changes the role of third‑party travel services.

2026-01-21T15:55:34.108041-08:00

Apple to Replace Siri with Generative AI Chatbot — Developer Access Will Decide Travel Impact

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AI News

Greg Mercer backs Skytron — four-seat fly-by-wire personal aircraft to reduce pilot error

Inside Anduril’s Bolt‑M: USMC orders ML‑driven loitering munition and scale‑up plan

Trust but Verify at 35,000 Feet: Making AI Earn Its Wings in Avionics

USMC awards Northrop Grumman $232M MUX TACAIR CCA contract; Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie to be missionized

News Timeline