Hyundai picks Palantir to help it build automated navy ships

South Korean industrial giant HD Hyundai's maritime arm announced on Sunday it will collaborate with controversial software developer Palantir Technologies to develop an unmanned surface vessel (USV) that can conduct reconnaissance for the world's navies.

Further work on combat drone boats will come later, according to HD Hyundai (which was spun off from its parent Hyundai Group in 2002).

"Previously developed USVs were difficult to operate in rough environments such as high waves, and had limitations that did not meet the mission performance capabilities of manned ships," explained HD Hyundai in a press release published Monday.

"Through this agreement, the goal of both companies is to develop a differentiated model by combining accumulated autonomous navigation technology with cutting-edge defense AI."

The tech may seem futuristic, but robotic boats are already employed for tasks including removing trash from Vietnam's Mekong Delta and monitoring underwater volcanos.

HD Hyundai called ...