Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative in Saudi Arabia, Schmidt argues that advancing drone technology is rendering traditional armoured warfare obsolete, pointing to recent conflicts as evidence.

"I read somewhere that the US had thousands and thousands of tanks stored somewhere. They should give them away and buy a drone instead."
Schmidt, who led Google from 2001 to 2011 and served as Alphabet's executive chairman until 2018, argued that drones, even those priced as low as $5,000, have proven capable of destroying military assets worth millions.

“A $5,000 drone can destroy a $5 million tank,” he emphasised, citing footage from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where inexpensive consumer-grade drones have been seen dropping grenades through open tank turrets.

This, he suggested, underscores the growing utility of drones over traditional military equipment.

To support Ukraine's defence efforts, Schmidt co-founded White Stork, a company aiming to develop low-cost drones equipped with AI.

The project envisions autonomous drones capable of identifying targets without an operator and designed to function effectively even in GPS-jammed environments. These AI-driven drones are seen as a potential game-changer in modern warfare, enhancing adaptability and reducing the need for large, heavily armoured vehicles.

Schmidt’s views align with his experience as chair of the US National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI), where he advised on national security issues related to AI. Reflecting on the pace of technological advancement, he predicted a shift away from traditional military assets.

“The cost of autonomy is falling so quickly that the drone war, which is the future of conflict, will get rid of eventually tanks, artillery, mortars,” he said.