Google AI Tech to Be Used in Virtual Border Wall of Trump Admin: Report

By Mary Anne R. Oct 22 2020, 07:14 AM EDT

Google is reportedly supplying its artificial intelligence (AI) technology to build a "virtual" border wall for the Trump administration, as reported by Business Insider.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection awarded the company a contract, in August, to use its Cloud technology to support artificial intelligence along the border wall.

Google's tech will also be used with, Anduril, a defense technology startup, to work on the wall.

Anduril was founded by ex-Facebook and Oculus executive Palmer Lucky. It was awarded a CBP contract in July to build the virtual wall as a means to monitor crossings in the U.S.

AI Tech

The system will see the installation of surveillance towers to detect movement as well as AI to distinguish humans and animals.

It also possesses a high-tech, cheaper alternative to Trump's controversial wall. The Trump administration's border wall has a price cap of $15 billion, with a heavy impact on the environment.

Lucky allegedly hosted a fundraising event for President Donald Trump at his Southern California residence last weekend. Lucky was vocal in his support for conservative topics.

The contract between Google and the CBP is being seen by a third-party federal contracting company. The said third-party company was Thundercat Technology, according to a The Intercept report.

The Virginia-based company is a reseller that dubs itself as a premier information technology provider for federal contracts.

Aside from Google's involvement with the "virtual" border wall, Google's technology will also be used in conjunction with work done by Anduril Industries. This is a technology that was founded by Lucky.

Meanwhile, it is still unclear how CBP aims to use the Google Cloud in conjunction with Anduril. Google spokesperson Jane Khodos refused to comment or discuss the said contract. Also, CBP, Anduril, and Thundercat Technology did not accept the requests to comment.

Google was also involved in one government project in May. Google Cloud division made an agreement to help the U.S. Department of Defense fight cyber threats around the globe.

Other tech firms have also provided their technical services to the government. Microsoft closed a $10 billion cloud-computing contract with the Pentagon in 2019. This was a deal that Google was initially eyeing, and Amazon has challenged.

Google Cloud

Google Cloud launched on Oct. 19, the Lending DocAl. This is the first dedicated tech service for the mortgage industry.

The tool aims to help mortgage companies speed up the process of evaluating a borrower's income and asset documents through specialized machine learning models automate routine document reviews.

Google product manager Sudheera Vanguri said their goal is to give people the right tools to help borrowers and lenders have a better experience and to close mortgage loans in a shorter time.

"With Lending DocAI, you will reduce mortgage processing time and costs, streamline data capture, and support regulatory and compliance requirements," Vanguri said in a Tech Crunch report.

Google Cloud also claims that this will reduce risk and enhance compliance posture.