Subvolts take Autonomous drones can enhance safety and create jobs, says Skydio's CEO. Jun 15, 2026 - Business
- Learn how a leading drone company is expanding US manufacturing and focusing on enterprise solutions.
This interview provides insights from a leader in autonomous drone technology discussing practical AI applications and industry strategy.
Skydio CEO argues more drones will make us safer
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From Subvolts
Summary and analysis by Subvolts editorial, AI-assisted.
Decoder host Nilay Patel interviews Skydio CEO Adam Bry about the company's autonomous drones. They discuss Skydio's work with police and government, competition with Chinese drones, and using AI for job creation. Bry also shares insights on expanding US manufacturing and the company's pivot to enterprise markets.
Skydio's CEO talks about how their smart drones help police and governments. He explains how these flying robots can make things safer and how building more of them in the US creates jobs, even as AI technology advances.
This episode offers a look at a leading US drone manufacturer navigating complex geopolitical and industry challenges. It's for business leaders, policymakers, and anyone interested in the practical applications of AI in hardware and defense. The conversation connects to current debates around AI's role in national security and the push for domestic technology production, mirroring concerns about AI's global impact discussed by frontier labs.
- HostNilay Patel
- GuestAdam BryCEO, Skydio
- Guest: Adam Bry, CEO of Skydio
- Show: Decoder with Nilay Patel
- Length: 73 minutes
- Skydio's manufacturing investment: $3.5 billion
- Skydio's market pivot: enterprise
Today, I’m talking with Slydio CEO Adam Bry, who runs the leading US maker of autonomous drones. We covered a lot in this conversation, including Skydio’s police and government work at a time when military use of AI is more controversial than ever and competing with Chinese drones against the backdrop of the Trump’s administration’s DJI ban.
There’s a lot in this one – maybe more than anything, it was refreshing to hear Adam talk about using AI to bring even more people to work at Skydio as the company expands. I also got to fly a drone, which ruled.
Read the full interview transcript on The Verge.
Links:
- Flying a semi-autonomous industrial drone | Decoder
- Sorry kid, drones are for war now | The Verge
- The FCC’s foreign drone ban is here | The Verge
- Skydio is pivoting to enterprise — its consumer drones are dead | The Verge
- Skydio commits $3.5B to expand US manufacturing | Skydio
- A US drone maker tries to take back the country’s skies | Bloomberg
- DEA looks to add Skydio, Parrot drones to its arsenal | FedScoop
- The future of border security isn’t at the border at all | The Verge
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Credits:
Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Decoder is produced by Kate Cox and Nick Statt and edited by Ursa Wright. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.
The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.
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- autonomous drones
- Adam Bry
- flying robots that can navigate and operate on their own
- enterprise
- Skydio
- businesses and government organizations, rather than individual consumers
Questions people ask
- What is Skydio's focus now?
- Skydio is pivoting to enterprise markets, and its consumer drones are no longer being produced.
- What is Skydio's stance on US manufacturing?
- Skydio commits $3.5 billion to expand its US manufacturing capabilities.
Page generated Oct 19, 2026. Summaries are Subvolts' own; the audio, artwork and notes belong to The Verge.