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Scrape Timestamp (UTC): 2026-01-26 10:20:40.792
Source: https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/26/royal_navy_oracle_ai/
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Oracle AI sailed the world on Royal Navy flagship via cloud-at-the-edge kit. Big Red says 'sovereign' platform supports decision-making and operational learning at sea. Britain's Royal Navy is using Oracle Cloud edge infrastructure to operate AI-driven defenses on the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales. The US tech giant says the Royal Navy deployed a so-called "sovereign AI capability" aboard the vessel during Operation Highmast, an eight-month mission in 2025 that saw it traverse the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Indo-Pacific. This was operated using Oracle's Roving Edge Infrastructure - a locally hosted version of its cloud platform, running on hardware inside a military-grade, ruggedized enclosure. Big Reg launched a version of Roving Edge in 2021, saying it allows customers to run workloads, including machine learning and analytics, in the field. The AI was developed by Belfast-based Whitespace, which describes the Saga platform as "an AI tool designed to accelerate how defense organizations capture, manage, and exploit institutional knowledge." According to Oracle, the platform let the Prince of Wales crew run AI to support decision-making and operational learning, turning mission data into "actionable understanding." Using "AI solutions across the entire operations of the Royal Navy is critical to the UK's defensive capabilities," claimed First Sea Lord Sir Gwyn Jenkins. Let's hope the Royal Navy doesn't find, as many businesses have, that AI doesn't actually improve productivity, because humans have to spend at least as much time checking its output for errors as they saved by using it. Or even worse, that the system hallucinates false information, as many AI models are prone to doing. Oracle's own AI-enhanced support portal, for example, was recently found to have made the service worse than the system it replaced. Saga provides an app-like interface that allows Royal Navy personnel to capture lessons, review mission data, and access AI support, Whitespace says. Oracle has bet big on AI, spending billions on datacenter investments to tap up developers and enterprise customers, and saddling itself with huge debt at the same time.
Daily Brief Summary
The Royal Navy deployed Oracle's AI-driven cloud edge infrastructure aboard HMS Prince of Wales during Operation Highmast, enhancing decision-making and operational learning across an eight-month mission.
Oracle's Roving Edge Infrastructure, a ruggedized version of its cloud platform, facilitated AI operations directly on the vessel, supporting real-time data analysis and strategic insights.
The AI platform, developed by Whitespace, is designed to accelerate the capture and utilization of institutional knowledge, aiding defense organizations in mission-critical operations.
First Sea Lord Sir Gwyn Jenkins emphasized the importance of AI solutions in strengthening the UK's defensive capabilities, highlighting the strategic value of integrating advanced technologies.
Despite the potential benefits, concerns persist regarding AI reliability, particularly issues like error-checking and the risk of generating false information, as seen in other AI applications.
Oracle's significant investment in AI and data center infrastructure aims to attract developers and enterprise clients, although it has resulted in substantial financial liabilities.
The initiative reflects a growing trend in military sectors to leverage AI for operational advantages, potentially setting a precedent for future defense technology integrations.