Podcast Summary: NestAI Gains €100M, Nokia Supports Real-Time Military AI

Podcast: The AI Podcast
Host: Jaden Schaefer
Episode Air Date: November 21, 2025

Episode Overview

In this incisive episode, host Jaden Schaefer examines Finland’s NestAI securing €100 million in funding and launching a strategic partnership with Nokia to develop real-time, sovereign AI systems for European defense. The show explores how this move reflects a sea change in European attitudes toward military AI, the technological imperatives behind sovereign models, and how the global arms race in AI is reshaping geopolitics and defense strategy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Historical Context & Shifting Attitudes [(00:29-02:34)]

• Return of Defense AI in Europe: Defense tech has long been a touchy subject in the European tech scene, due in part to ethical reservations and public backlash seen previously in companies like Google.
• Renewed Urgency: Given recent global events—such as Russia’s aggressions near Finland's borders and the ongoing war in Ukraine—European nations are reevaluating their reluctance to invest in military AI.
• Host's View:

  "You can't outsource all of your data, all of your AI, all of your technology to other countries. While the United States is very friendly with Europe right now, and I hope it's like that forever... you really just can't ever trust everyone else in the world." — Jaden Schaefer [04:19]

2. What is NestAI and Why Does it Matter? [(02:35-07:03)]

• NestAI Overview:
  • Finnish startup focused on sovereign, secure foundation AI models for defense.
  • Designed to run privately—no dependence on American, Chinese, or other foreign tech giants.
  • Models operate encrypted and offline, fit for deployment in remote, risky battlefield environments.
• Finland’s Motivation:
  • Shares a long border with Russia; NATO’s newest member, keen to rapidly modernize defense.

  • "For Finland right now, creating this kind of secure AI is not a nice to have. It's definitely critical for their national survival." — Jaden Schaefer [03:26]

• Investor Confidence:
  • €100 million funding signals Europe’s intent and seriousness in developing independent defense AI infrastructure.

3. Strategic Partnership with Nokia [(07:04-09:32)]

• Why Nokia?
  • Nokia controls a vast swath of Europe’s secure communications infrastructure and has deep institutional trust.

  • "Nokia already powers all of those [defense systems], so merging out with AI is a really easy fit." — Jaden Schaefer [07:39]

  • European governments are more likely to trust Nokia's secure, home-grown solutions over foreign alternatives.
  • Nokia’s expertise in 'edge hardware' aligns well as AI is increasingly deployed outside massive data centers.
• Geopolitical Implications:
  • Partnership taps into European ambitions for technological self-sufficiency and independence from the US and China.

4. Context: Global AI Military Race [(09:33-12:06)]

• International Perspective:
  • US: Major players (Palantir, Scale AI, OpenAI, Anduril, and others) deeply integrated with the Department of Defense.
  • China: AI giants are tightly woven with military tech development.
  • Israel: Testing fully autonomous battlefield systems.
  • UAE: Investing billions in sovereign AI models (e.g., Falcon).
  • Europe: Has been slower and more regulation-focused, often prioritizing AI safety over capabilities.

• "The real reason why this matters is because AI and defense is becoming an arms race... the best AI is going to win the next geopolitical era." — Jaden Schaefer [10:23]

5. Technology Deepdive: NestAI’s Innovations [(12:07-13:56)]

• NestAI’s Defense AI Capabilities:
  • AI-enabled surveillance and reconnaissance.
  • Secure, encrypted vision models for real-time threat identification.
  • Decision support systems for military operations.
  • On-device AI for intelligence analysis, disconnected from foreign clouds.
  • Autonomous detection systems for drones, sensors—designed for offline, low-power, field operation.
• Why Edge-Ready AI is Critical:
  • Most military situations lack robust connectivity and datacenter resources.

  • "They are building models that work offline in low power environments and without massive data centers... Nest AI is designing an AI that works in the field and, you know, not just at some big data center in the desert somewhere." — Jaden Schaefer [13:10]

• Investor Appetite: The €100 million round, though not 'typical,' foreshadows an explosion of interest and capital for defense AI.

6. Looking Forward: Predictions & Trends [(13:57-16:01)]

• Host’s Prognoses:
  • Expect more sovereign AI defense models to emerge across Europe.
  • NATO will likely create joint AI standards.
  • Defense companies will increasingly partner directly with AI labs.
  • Autonomous surveillance and secure, private LLMs will proliferate for every country.

• "AI now is, is as essential as fighter jets, satellites and missile defense systems. So whoever builds the best models is definitely going to shape the future and the battlefield." — Jaden Schaefer [15:22]

• Finland Leading the Charge:
  • Host postulates Finland could set the precedent for a larger European AI defense movement.
  • The episode closes on a note of both strategic urgency and transformational opportunity.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If you're running a sensor tower at a remote border post or, you know, a drone in the Arctic, you don't have any of that [data center infrastructure].” — Jaden Schaefer [13:01]
• “Nest AI is positioning itself as the trusted European alternative to US and Chinese models.” — Jaden Schaefer [12:25]
• "Whoever builds the best models is definitely going to shape the future and the battlefield." — Jaden Schaefer [15:22]

Important Segment Timestamps

• Historical context & AI for defense: 00:29–02:34
• NestAI overview & Finland's motivation: 02:35–07:03
• Nokia partnership details: 07:04–09:32
• Comparative international landscape: 09:33–12:06
• NestAI tech specifics: 12:07–13:56
• Future predictions & closing thoughts: 13:57–16:01

Tone & Style

The host provides a blend of analytical insight, urgency, and conversational directness. He draws from current and historical trends, offers personal viewpoints candidly, and avoids technical jargon, making the episode accessible and engaging for professionals and enthusiasts alike.