What happens when AI can make military decisions faster than humans? At the Silicon Nation Virtual Happy Hour, Joe Merrill, CEO of OpenTeams, revealed how AI is transforming national security—and what it means for the future of power.
Joe Merrill: I started my career as a U.S. foreign service officer, focusing on diplomacy and soft power. I later transitioned to the private sector, working with John Deere and founding an EdTech company, which I eventually sold. After that, I spent years in venture capital, helping startups grow. Now, at OpenTeams, we’re building the AI back-end infrastructure for some of the biggest companies in the world, including Meta, Google, and OpenAI.
Joe Merrill: OpenTeams is the best-kept secret in AI. We build the AI that powers some of the largest organizations in the world. Because it’s open-source, our clients own the AI, and we build it for them. We specialize in massively scalable AI systems and work with federal agencies, defense organizations, and private companies to develop secure, open, and transparent AI solutions.
Joe Merrill: AI is driving the cost of software down, and traditional black-box SaaS models are struggling to keep up. The future is open-source AI, where companies have full control over their systems. The ability to rapidly deploy open-source AI will determine who wins or loses in the AI revolution.
Joe Merrill: AI is now the most powerful tool ever developed, and countries that don’t own their own AI infrastructure will face serious security risks. If your AI is controlled by an external entity, you don’t actually own your technology—you’re dependent on a black-box system. This is why open, transparent, and accountable AI is essential for national security.
Q: Are neural networks truly unintelligible?
Q: If SaaS is dying, what will replace it?
Joe Merrill: Open-source AI will dominate. While small businesses may still use SaaS for convenience, larger organizations will adopt custom-built, open-source AI for flexibility, security, and cost efficiency.
Q: How can companies prepare for upcoming AI regulations?
Q: What’s OpenTeams’ business model?
Joe Merrill: We architect AI systems and provide long-term support to ensure peak performance. Our model is similar to high-level enterprise software support, offering continuous maintenance and optimization.
Q: If AI talent is scarce, how do we protect them?
Q: How is AI changing warfare and national security?
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