Artificial intelligence is no longer theoretical in public safety. It is operational, embedded in the systems that secure cities, protect borders, and now defend nations in contested environments. Few executives have been closer to this transformation than Dr. Mahesh Saptharishi, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Motorola Solutions.

A PhD in AI from Carnegie Mellon and a career technologist, Saptharishi has spent more than two decades translating research into real-world applications that enhance situational awareness and decision-making. His innovations have advanced how first responders, governments, and defense agencies manage information, risk, and time.

In this session from the 2025 Sway Minds Summit, Saptharishi joined Ken Denman, Managing Director at Sway Ventures and Lead Independent Director at Motorola Solutions, for a discussion on how AI is transforming defense and security. The article below is not a transcript of their conversation but an editorial interpretation of the insights and ideas they explored.

To explore the full discussion, including topics not covered here, subscribe to Sway Capital’s YouTube channel and get early access when Mahesh Saptharishi’s session is released.

From Public Safety to Defense

For decades, Motorola Solutions has been synonymous with mission-critical communications. Today, it is also becoming a leader in defense technology. Through AI-driven innovation and strategic acquisitions, the company is extending its expertise from city safety to national security.

The acquisition of Silvus Technologies in a 4.5-billion-dollar deal marked a defining moment. Silvus’s Mobile Ad Hoc Networking (MANET) systems, when integrated with Motorola’s AI and analytics, enable encrypted, high-bandwidth networks that dynamically adapt to disruption. These systems allow autonomous platforms and drone networks to maintain communication even in contested environments, reorganizing their missions in real time to preserve connectivity and effectiveness.

This integration represents a major step in the evolution of adaptive defense infrastructure, where communication networks are not fixed assets but intelligent, self-healing systems capable of surviving and responding under pressure.

Real-World AI in Action

Under Saptharishi’s leadership, Motorola has developed one of the world’s most advanced portfolios of AI-enabled safety and security systems. New platforms such as SVX and Assist merge secure radio, video, and AI into a single device, enabling first responders and defense teams to share critical intelligence, detect anomalies, and coordinate more effectively than ever before.

These systems are already reshaping how field operations work. In public safety, AI tools help identify emerging threats before they escalate and accelerate response times. In defense, the same principles apply at scale, with algorithms that support tactical awareness, signal management, and decision-making under stress. What began as civilian infrastructure for safety has evolved into a foundation for defense-grade resilience.

For Saptharishi, the goal is not simply to make operations more efficient, but to expand what is possible in the most demanding environments. By merging human intuition with algorithmic insight, Motorola is building the next generation of decision infrastructure.

Human-AI Collaboration and Trust

Despite rapid technological progress, Saptharishi emphasizes that AI should strengthen, not replace, human judgment. His philosophy focuses on human-AI collaboration as a source of reliability, accountability, and trust.

In areas like policing, emergency response, and defense, this approach ensures that automation accelerates action while maintaining transparency and ethical oversight. Every AI deployment at Motorola is developed with clear principles around privacy, fairness, and explainability, creating a structure of responsibility that supports both operators and the communities they serve.

This disciplined framework for AI governance has positioned Motorola as a benchmark in responsible innovation. By aligning speed with accountability, the company demonstrates how technology can evolve without eroding public trust.

Building the Sensory Infrastructure of the Future

Looking forward, Saptharishi envisions the rise of sensory infrastructure — interconnected systems that combine AI, communications, and advanced sensing to create a new layer of intelligence for global safety and defense. In this emerging model, every connected device becomes both a data source and an analytical engine, learning continuously and adapting to its environment.

The convergence of AI and communications is now one of the fastest-growing segments in dual-use technology. Global investment in defense-related AI exceeded 25 billion USD in 2024, a reflection of the market’s belief that the future of deterrence and protection will depend as much on information systems as on physical assets.

For investors and policymakers, this shift signals the creation of an entirely new sector: one that integrates autonomy, resilience, and insight into the infrastructure of national security.

The Power of Mission-Critical Innovation

Throughout his career, Saptharishi has pursued a single principle: that technology should enhance human capability in the moments that matter most. From urban safety to battlefield readiness, his work illustrates how AI can serve as a strategic force multiplier — one that increases awareness, precision, and survivability.

For the Sway Minds audience of founders, investors, and operators, his message carried both urgency and optimism. The future of defense will belong to systems that are intelligent, adaptive, and ethical. True progress will depend not only on speed and scale but also on the trust between humans and the technologies that protect them.