Defense Disruptors: How SiMa.ai is Redefining AI at the Edge for National Security

In the fast-paced world of artificial intelligence, most attention has been focused on cloud-based systems — the huge data centers powering services we use every day. But one man, Krishna Rangasayee, saw a critical gap that others missed. In 2018, he left his high-ranking role at a successful semiconductor firm to chase a mission many ignored: bringing AI to the edge — the real world around us.

“The cloud was getting all the attention,” Rangasayee recalls. “But the edge — where machines like drones, industrial robots, and defense systems operate — was dramatically underserved.”

He understood that the future of AI wasn’t only in distant, connected servers, but also in devices that work independently, often in remote, disconnected, and even hostile environments. These are places where AI needs to work in real-time and securely, without relying on internet connections or cloud services. From autonomous military drones to battlefield systems, medical equipment to industrial automation — these edge environments demanded a new kind of solution.

Building AI for the Real World

Krishna Rangasayee founded SiMa.ai with a bold idea: build a system that wasn’t just another AI chip, but an entire system-on-chip (SoC) designed from scratch for edge AI.

Unlike traditional companies that sold accelerators — chips made for speeding up AI calculations — SiMa.ai developed a complete edge AI system that could independently run AI applications. This meant one small chip could replace what previously took multiple chips and processors.

Key Specifications of SiMa.ai’s Platform:

• System-on-Chip (SoC) Design: Combines AI processing, machine learning, image processing, and other functions on a single chip.

• 10x Performance per Watt: Delivers much higher efficiency than conventional solutions, crucial for battery-powered and compact defense equipment.

• Zero-Connectivity Operation: Works entirely offline, ensuring sensitive data never leaves the device — vital for national security.

• Software-Defined AI Stack: AI tools and libraries built for simplicity so that even users without deep AI expertise can operate and deploy systems.

• Modalix Gen-2 Platform: Recently launched, it supports emerging AI applications like Large Language Models (LLMs) on the edge, an area still rare in defense tech.

Software First, Even in Defense

While the company is known for its advanced silicon, Rangasayee insists SiMa.ai is a software-first company. The problem, he says, is that AI scaling at the edge isn’t limited by hardware power — it’s held back by complex, difficult-to-use software.

In defense especially, where AI expertise isn’t always available, it’s vital to make AI deployment as simple as possible. That’s why SiMa.ai designed its tools to be intuitive, efficient, and accessible. AI systems on battlefields or inside military vehicles can’t rely on internet connections or cloud-based processing. Everything must work on-device — securely, privately, and instantly.

Their AI chips are built from the ground up with security-first designs. No cloud connections. No Wi-Fi needed. Sensitive data is processed and stored entirely within the chip.

A New Era of Defense AI

Geopolitical tensions, especially after the war in Ukraine, have driven nations to rethink defense strategies. AI, semiconductors, and secure systems are now seen as essential for national security.

SiMa.ai is part of this transformation, offering small, energy-efficient, AI-powered edge devices for national defense — from portable surveillance systems to AI-assisted targeting solutions. And their latest Modalix platform is one of the first to bring the power of advanced AI models like LLMs into the edge environment, something once thought impossible.

Beating the Giants

Despite being a startup in a market dominated by global tech giants with billion-dollar budgets, SiMa.ai keeps moving fast. According to Rangasayee, success in this market isn’t about size — it’s about speed.

“You launch a product,” he says, “and five seconds later, you’re onto the next.” The company’s agile approach and relentless innovation help it stay ahead in a competitive and high-stakes industry.

The Founder’s Journey

For Krishna Rangasayee, this journey was personal as well as professional. Leaving behind a stable executive role wasn’t easy, but his vision for AI at the edge was clear.

The global market for edge semiconductors, worth over $40 billion annually, was ignored by most. It was considered too fragmented, too difficult — but Rangasayee saw it as both a challenge and a duty, especially in the service of national security.

Starting a chip company is notoriously tough, and Rangasayee admits the road was often lonely and filled with setbacks. Yet for him, the mission to secure defense systems and critical infrastructure made every sacrifice worthwhile.

Words of Advice

For others looking to tackle difficult problems in demanding industries, Rangasayee offers a simple message: Resilience is everything.

Good ideas and great teams will get you to the starting line, but it’s relationships, grit, and a refusal to quit that build lasting companies.

His mother’s advice still guides him: “Being humble and paranoid never killed anyone.” And in a world where AI and national security are becoming inseparable, staying alert and driven isn’t just smart — it’s survival.

Conclusion

SiMa.ai isn’t just another AI chip maker — it’s a defense disruptor. By focusing on secure, efficient, and easy-to-use AI systems for the edge, they’re helping redefine how technology supports national security in a rapidly changing world.

From AI-powered surveillance to autonomous battlefield systems, and now even edge-based large language models, SiMa.ai is quietly but decisively building the future of defense.