Welcome to Spotlight on Dynamism, where we shine a light on CEOs and companies at the intersection of innovation and national interest. Covering sectors from defense to public safety and supply chain, we delve into the stories of mission-driven leaders committed to civic responsibility, whose ventures not only cross verticals but also redefine business models in their quest to address critical national challenges. This month, we turn our focus to Mike Lahiff of ZeroEyes and John Dulin of Modern Intelligence, pioneers harnessing AI to ensure safety and security for both civilians and the military. ZeroEyes employs its advanced computer vision platform to detect and alert authorities about potential firearm threats in public spaces, significantly enhancing public safety and response times. Meanwhile, Modern Intelligence specializes in maritime surveillance by utilizing real-time sensor fusion to track, analyze, and learn about maritime targets, thereby delivering unmatched accuracy and resilience in defense operations. In an increasingly opaque world where threats are evolving, ZeroEyes and Modern Intelligence exemplify the use of cutting-edge AI to clear the “fog of war” and ensure security and safety at home and abroad. ZeroEyes and Modern Intelligence are not just innovators, but rather essential components in safeguarding our future. Please read our full interviews with Mike and John below.
ZeroEyes enhances security with AI firearm detection, turning cameras into proactive early warning systems to prevent mass shootings. Founded by Navy SEALs and technologists, it provides real-time alerts to first responders, reducing response times and improving situational awareness.
Mike Lahiff
CEO
“ZeroEyes is designed solely for object detection (in our case, any make or model of gun), eliminating potential privacy concerns, and identifying real firearm threats with greater accuracy than other security options.”
Modern Intelligence is building the foundational AI for defense. Every new drone and platform in the Department of Defense (DoD) needs AI - Modern’s targeting AI product line is the standard for them to see every enemy, everywhere, all the time. I
John Dulin
CEO
“Modern Intelligence will be the defining battlefield AI. Our path to that future is through automated targeting because it's an urgent problem and answers the simple but critical question of where are the enemies?”
Mike Lahiff, CEO
Michael (Mike) D. Lahiff serves as Chairman and CEO of ZeroEyes. Prior to founding ZeroEyes, Mr. Lahiff served as Director of Digital Programs at Comcast NBC Universal where he oversaw the coordination between project management teams and software development teams in order to deliver multiple digital products. Prior to joining Comcast, Mr. Lahiff was the managing member of Horsemen Partners, a private fund focused on acquisitions of small and medium sized businesses. Mr. Lahiff also spent ten years in the US Navy as a Navy SEAL. Mr. Lahiff holds a degree in Business Administration and Finance from Columbia College and a Master of Business Administration in Private Equity & Venture Capital from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
- Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- University: Columbia College (BS), University of Pennsylvania, Wharton (MBA)
- Book Recommendation: Night by Elie Wiesel, Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Lazard: What was your journey to founding ZeroEyes?
ML: I left active duty in 2013 after 10 years because I was at that point in my career where I either had to stay in for another 10 years or get out and find a new career path. I chose the latter. I had no idea what I wanted to do next, so I applied to business school and was fortunate enough to get into Wharton in Philadelphia, where I was born and raised. I thought, "Oh, sweet, I get to move back home, go to Wharton, and I'll figure it out."
While I was at Wharton, I explored various fields, but nothing in particular excited me except for the startup world—building your own thing, running with it, and trying to make something happen. It wasn’t until after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas School shooting that I had the idea for ZeroEyes. Around that time, I was picking my oldest daughter up from a school lacrosse practice and I noticed all the security cameras at the school. I asked the security guard who was monitoring them, and he said no one!
I knew folks doing facial recognition technology out in Silicon Valley. I thought, "Instead of focusing on faces, why don't we focus on detecting guns?" If you could detect a gun, you could send an alert with the image of what the shooter looks like, what type of weapon they have, and geo-locate them on a map. That type of information would have been invaluable during missions in the SEAL teams. I knew it would absolutely help first responders and local staff.
Lazard: How is ZeroEyes revolutionizing firearm detection?
ML: ZeroEyes automatically detects firearms without any additional security infrastructure and can do so in those precious moments when the gunman is walking around with the weapon before they begin firing.
Our AI technology is designed solely for object detection (in our case, any make or model of gun), eliminating potential privacy concerns, and identifying real firearm threats with greater accuracy than other security options. When a gun is detected, we send an alert to our clients, local staff, and first responders.
Everyone receives a picture of the shooter, what type of gun it is, and a geo-location of the shooter on a map of the campus. This allows local staff to get people to safety as soon as possible and first responders now know exactly where to go. We're trying to clear the fog of war.
“Instead of focusing on faces, why don't we focus on detecting guns? If you could detect a gun, you could send an alert with the image of what the shooter looks like, what type of weapon they have, and geo-locate them on a map.
That type of information would have been invaluable during missions in the SEAL teams. I knew it would absolutely help first responders and local staff.”
Lazard: Was there a pivotal moment or breakthrough for ZeroEyes?
ML: It feels like we have a breakthrough every week. We started the company in my basement, with five guys sleeping in hammocks, working on an MVP to build a computer vision model that could detect guns from security cameras.
One of our first major breakthroughs was realizing we had to build our own data sets and do our own annotation. We now do all of that in-house with our own teams, whereas probably 99% of other companies outsource that or try to purchase it from third parties.
We also made sure our system could work with various security camera models, which involved several developments to run AI models efficiently while managing compute costs.
When we went into our first beta site with about 50 cameras running on our platform simultaneously, it was a significant milestone. We were testing and creating alerts, and it was exciting. However, we realized we had forgotten to send the alerts somewhere! This led us to develop our mobile app so that 911 operators, local police, and staff can receive the alerts within their standard operating procedures.
We also realized we needed a human in the loop to prevent false positives. So, we built our own operations centers and started hiring veterans and former law enforcement officers to staff them 24/7, 365 days a year. This approach has worked out great for us and has been a crucial part of our success.
Lazard: It feels as though there is a lot of white space out there - what other markets is ZeroEyes serving?
ML: We initially focused on schools because that was our primary motivation—we didn't want to see another school shooting. However, COVID-19 paused our sales as schools shifted to distance learning, halting physical security purchases.
Interestingly, during this period, we had made enough noise in the press and at security conferences that commercial and government clients started reaching out. It was a perfect time because their buildings were mostly empty, allowing us to test our solution thoroughly. We started landing commercial clients, and eventually, government clients as well.
Now, we concentrate on three main sectors: education (private and public K-12 schools and universities), commercial (industries like gaming, healthcare, and manufacturing), and government (military bases and capital buildings).
Lazard: Could you share a standout success story or case study that exemplifies the value of ZeroEyes?
ML: Over the past two to three years, we've had numerous successful case studies, which is remarkable given that we're only on a small fraction of the cameras in the U.S. right now. We see guns daily through our system but not every instance is a lethal threat.
We’ve had several real case scenarios on mass transit. We had an incident where someone on a subway bench pulled out a gun, and the police arrived within 90 seconds after our alert.
Another time, an individual on a subway platform had a pistol out, and although they fled upon hearing the police, they were later apprehended thanks to our alert.
In another case, at a municipal building, a group gathered in a parking lot and someone came out of a vehicle with an assault rifle. We dispatched an alert; the police dispersed the group and caught the individual.
“ZeroEyes will be the fire alarm of the future. Just as fire alarms and smoke detectors became part of building codes due to the frequent fires and resulting fatalities, I think gun detection technology will follow a similar path because it can significantly help.”
Lazard: Where do you see ZeroEyes in 10 years, given the market opportunity? Is it just a bigger version of what you're doing now?
ML: In 10 years, ZeroEyes will be as essential as fire alarms. Just as fire alarms became mandatory due to frequent fires and fatalities, gun detection technology will likely follow suit. Currently, over 100 million commercial security cameras in the U.S. lack advanced analytics, mostly serving forensic purposes. We aim to change this by using our technology to detect threats before or during an incident, providing real-time situational awareness.
Our business model integrates with existing security systems in schools, buildings, and transit authorities. We overlay our software onto current cameras without installing new ones or pulling wires, simplifying the process. This approach highlights our market potential and growth prospects. Looking ahead, we are also exploring innovations like drones as first responders, drone detection, and enhancing AI capabilities.
John Dulin, CEO
John Dulin serves as CEO of Modern Intelligence. Before founding Modern Intelligence, Mr. Dulin worked as an early engineer at Freenome, where he applied machine learning to cancer diagnostics, and at Numerai, an AI-driven hedge fund, focusing on quantitative finance. His passion for defense technology was sparked by the potential to revolutionize defense strategies through AI, inspired by successful companies like Anduril and Palantir. Mr. Dulin holds a degree in physics from Case Western Reserve University and is committed to advancing AI solutions that address critical defense challenges, such as real-time sensor data analysis and threat detection.
- Hometown: Kenton, Ohio
- University: Case Western Reserve University
- Book Recommendation: Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Lazard: Were there any early moments or experiences that had a significant impact on you?
JD: I majored in physics and minored in computer science in college, but what truly enriched my experience was engaging in theater. Theater taught me profound lessons in communication and emotional intelligence, skills that are pivotal in acting but equally essential in business. It’s fascinating how theater, with its emphasis on storytelling and understanding human behavior, mirrors the very essence of building a team, pitching to investors, and narrating our company’s story to clients.
Lazard: Tell us about your path from Physics, Computer Science and Theater in Ohio to a defense tech company in Austin.
JD: Although I didn’t know it at the time, after college I worked for two companies that set me on the path to Modern Intelligence. The first was Freenome, the early cancer detection biotech company where I built a lot of their early data infrastructure and worked with a world-class ML research team. After that, I spent a year at Numerai, the AI-based, open source hedge fund. Diagnosing cancer and predicting the stock market are noisy problems with limited data and operate in highly regulated industries, which is similar to what we are building here at Modern. Even before I left Numerai to start Modern, I was thinking about defense all the time and was just obsessed with the industry and mission as an American, technologist, and fan of history.
“We need to turn the American military and every soldier, drone, ship, plane, tank, satellite, and command center into the world's largest and deadliest mesh network…after that is when the AI-arms race really starts.”
Lazard: What is Modern Intelligence’s mission?
JD: At Modern Intelligence, our mission is to build the best, fastest to integrate, automated targeting AI for any mission. This AI is the key to transforming the entire American military by transitioning from traditional, expensive manned platforms to cost-effective unmanned ones which can only happen if the right software is in place. The future we envision is one where the sheer volume of data, when harnessed by superior software and AI, will decisively outpace the adversary. Surprisingly, when we ventured into this space, we discovered a gap – a need for a defining AI defense company that is software oriented, not hardware-first or service-centric.
Lazard: Why was maritime your beachhead and tell us about your solution’s impact to date?
JD: Cutlass is our maritime automated targeting AI being used by South American partners for their drug interdiction missions. During development, we talked to the DoD team, and they essentially said: “we have 42 million square miles of ocean to fight the drug crisis in the United States, and we have the smallest budget of any DoD geographic combatant command, please help”.
It immediately clicked with us, because we saw an opportunity to test in a real maritime theater where there are planes, drones and satellites hunting drug boats every day. Also, the region is a live testing ground for the challenges of deterring and confronting the Chinese in the Pacific. After all, finding a drug boat and finding a Chinese destroyer are not too different. Since then, Cutlass has been in the DoD exercises over 11 times now, and we are prototyping and moving to contract with a similar solution for land.
Lazard: Can you share a success story that highlights why Modern Intelligence is so valuable to customers?
JD: One particularly striking success story involves reconnaissance plane operators who face a ridiculous process: for ten hours a day, they quickly switch back and forth between RF, radar, and infrared sensors, all running on different software, none of which communicate with the pilot. When the operator sees something interesting, they pull out a tablet and drop a pin on the DoD version of Google Maps so the pilot can fly over the target. Modern Intelligence integrates all those sensors and creates a single map interface with all the targets that can then be shared with the pilot.
Lazard: What will Modern Intelligence look like in 10 years?
JD: A decade from now, Modern Intelligence will be the defining battlefield AI. Our path to that future is through automated targeting because it's an urgent problem and answers the simple but critical question of where are the enemies?
You can't answer strategic questions unless you know who, what, when, or where everything on a battlefield is located.
“We're going operational. We have commercial and prime licensed customers and we've identified programs of record. This is what it takes to win in defense.”
Lazard: With so many defense tech companies in the market, what sets Modern Intelligence apart?
JD: We have people who wake up and use our platform every day. We have a seven-figure commercial license sale to a prime contractor, validating that they prefer to buy this platform rather than develop it themselves. We have identified a program of record worth more than $400 million that aligns with our vision. This is what it means to win in defense.
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