U.S. Rep. Jimmy Patronis helped mark the opening of an artificial intelligence (AI) firm in the Panhandle that specializes in many defense elements.

Patronis, a Pensacola Republican, was in Fort Walton Beach this month, where he helped launch a new location for Applied Intuition. The company has developed so-called “aerial autonomy” and air combat autonomy. Patronis said the new Applied Intuition location will create defense technology jobs in the Panhandle, which falls under his U.S. District 1 seat in Congress for Florida.

Applied Intuition promotes itself as “vehicle intelligence,” providing software-based smart technology across many vehicle sectors. The company was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Mountain View, California, in the midst of Silicon Valley, the Mecca of technology firms and companies. The company has offices in many domestic locales, including Detroit, Michigan and Washington, D.C., as well as international offices in Tokyo, Japan, Munich, Germany, Seoul, South Korea and Stockholm, Sweden.

Patronis said that, given the breadth of Applied Intuition’s work, he’s thrilled the company is coming to the Emerald Coast.

“I am proud to welcome Applied Intuition to Florida’s First District,” said Patronis. “Their investment strengthens our role as a national leader in defense innovation, creates high-paying jobs for the Panhandle, and directly supports the men and women who keep our country safe.”

Applied Intuition has increased its prominence in defense contracting in recent years. The website Breaking Defense reported in December that Applied Intuition landed a defense contract with Siera Nevada Co. (SNC) to supply autonomous weapons systems for air defense, according to the U.S. Department of Defense..

“Combining Silicon Valley speed, innovation and engineering power with decades of experience in complex defense systems, Applied and SNC are determined to make battlefield autonomy not just a concept for the future, but a capability ready for deployment now,” Applied CEO Qasar Younis said in the report.

While Applied Intuition is steeped in defense contracts, the company also produces software for civilian development. The company provides various autonomous vehicle self-driving systems for vehicles such as cars, buses and commercial trucks

The post Jimmy Patronis welcomes AI firm’s new office in Fort Walton Beach appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..