Latest news with #FrancisBrennan
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Money Spigot That's Never Going Off'—Meta Reportedly Hiring Ex-Pentagon Officials As They Target Defense Contracts
Meta (NASDAQ:META) is reportedly stepping up its game to land big government defense contracts, and CEO Mark Zuckerberg is leading the charge. According to Forbes, the tech giant is actively recruiting former Pentagon and national security officials to help pitch its virtual reality and AI tech to the federal government. This move comes just months after Meta opened its Llama AI model for military use, signaling a major shift in strategy. While Meta has long had lobbyists in Washington, new job postings suggest it's going all-in. Don't Miss: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — One job position on Meta's website seeks a public policy manager to focus on the White House, preferably with security clearance and Pentagon experience, to 'lead our outreach to national security and foreign policy agencies within the Executive Branch of the U.S. government.' In January, Meta brought on Francis Brennan, a former Trump advisor, to lead strategic communications in Washington, D.C. Forbes reports that another new hire, who worked for an undisclosed government agency for over a decade, wrote on LinkedIn that they will focus on 'intelligence sharing' with the government. 'Whether it's protecting national security or strengthening the platforms that billions rely on, I'm grateful for the opportunities that allow me to give back,' the employee reportedly posted. Trending: 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. Meta didn't comment to Forbes, but the intentions are clear: follow the money. Shana Marshall of George Washington University put it bluntly, telling Forbes, "If you are looking for a money spigot that's never going to get turned off, you go to the Pentagon." Zuckerberg has also been working hard to cozy up to the Trump administration. After donating $1 million to Trump's inauguration committee, he made several moves that seemed designed to appeal to conservatives—ending Facebook's third-party fact-checking program, disbanding its diversity team, and appointing Trump ally and UFC President Dana White to Meta's board. Despite once saying Zuckerberg "should be jailed for life," President Donald Trump appears to have had a change of heart. The two met at Mar-a-Lago in November, and Zuckerberg attended Trump's inauguration. He even bought a $23 million home in Washington, hasn't announced any direct defense contracts yet, but it's already working with major military contractors like Palantir (NYSE:PLTR), Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT), and Booz Allen (NYSE:BAH). The company said in a statement last year, 'It is in both America and the wider democratic world's interest for American open source models to excel and succeed over models from China and elsewhere.' The shift mirrors a broader trend among tech companies. After years of avoiding military deals due to ethical concerns, firms like Google, OpenAI and Anthropic are now lining up to work with the U.S. government. Read Next: Invest where it hurts — and help millions heal:. Inspired by Uber and Airbnb – Deloitte's fastest-growing software company is transforming 7 billion smartphones into income-generating assets – Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article 'Money Spigot That's Never Going Off'—Meta Reportedly Hiring Ex-Pentagon Officials As They Target Defense Contracts originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Globe and Mail
11-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Meta Recruits Former Pentagon Officials to Secure Military Contracts
Meta (META) is stepping up its efforts to secure government contracts by recruiting former Pentagon officials and ramping up its AI and virtual reality services for military use. This strategic move comes after Meta's Llama AI model was opened up for military use. This could indicate the company's intention to compete with tech giants like Google (GOOGL) and OpenAI in the defense sector. Protect Your Portfolio Against Market Uncertainty Discover companies with rock-solid fundamentals in TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter. Receive undervalued stocks, resilient to market uncertainty, delivered straight to your inbox. Meta Seeks Former Pentagon Experts Meta is actively hiring experts with deep ties to the U.S. government. Among the roles listed, they are looking for public policy managers with security clearances to engage directly with national security agencies. These new hires will help Meta sell its AI and virtual reality products to federal agencies, including the Pentagon. Meta is also expanding its reach within the defense sector by tapping into Washington's political circles. According to Forbes, the company has recently brought on Francis Brennan, a former Trump advisor, to lead communications efforts in D.C. Zuckerberg's Charm Offensive and Pivot to Government Business This effort coincides with Mark Zuckerberg's ongoing push to soften his company's image and gain favor with the Trump administration. In recent months, Zuckerberg has made moves to appeal to conservatives, such as dismantling Facebook's third-party fact-checking program and appointing Trump ally Dana White to Meta's board. This political shift is part of a broader strategy to court the U.S. government, particularly as Meta faces a federal antitrust lawsuit. The company has recently made strides to shift its focus from consumer-driven services to lucrative government contracts. Meta's Strategy to Compete with Tech Giants in Military Contracts Meta's goal is clear: it wants a piece of the military's multi-billion-dollar contracts. The company is targeting its virtual reality division and AI services, which have already caught the eye of defense contractors like Lockheed Martin (LMT), Leidos (LDOS), and Booz Allen (BAH). Meta's Llama AI model is now part of a broader defense initiative that includes military use for training and intelligence sharing. In the past, many big tech companies were hesitant to engage with the military, but that's quickly changing as firms like Meta recognize the significant financial potential in these contracts. Is Meta Stock a Good Buy? Meta Platforms continues to dominate investor attention with its strong outlook. Based on ratings from 45 analysts, the company has earned a solid Strong Buy recommendation. The average 12-month META price target stands at an average of $699.26, offering a potential upside of 16.95% from its last price of $597.90. The high forecast jumps to $935.00, while the low comes in at $525.00. This positive outlook aligns with Meta's growing influence in sectors like virtual reality and AI. The company's push into military contracts, particularly its Llama AI model, shows its ambition to expand its footprint beyond just social media. Meta is even recruiting former Pentagon officials to strengthen its presence in national security. See more META analyst ratings
Mint
11-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Meta offers ex-Pentagon officials jobs as big tech firm aims to sell AI services to US government: Report
Big Tech firm, Meta Platforms Inc., is allegedly offering jobs to former national security and Pentagon officials to help in selling virtual reality and artificial intelligence (AI) services, reported the news portal Forbes, citing government officials in the know who were aware of the company's recruiting efforts. Meta recently launched its Llama AI model for military use, and the firm has maintained its relationships with lobbyists in the US government. However, according to the news portal's report, the company has opened up nearly six job roles in an effort to secure lucrative government contracts. According to the job roles data, the company is looking for two public policy managers, one of whom will focus on the White House. The report also cited that the job role requirement is to have a prior security clearance and work experience with the Pentagon. 'Lead our outreach to national security and foreign policy agencies within the Executive Branch of the U.S. government on both policy issues and adoption of our technologies,' according to the job post cited in the news portal's report. In January 2025, Meta hired Francis Brennan, who was the former advisor to US President Donald Trump, to lead the company's communication in Washington, DC, as per the report. They also hired another former official who claimed to have served an undisclosed US federal government agency for more than a decade, according to LinkedIn data cited in the report. Meta refused to comment on the development, reported the news portal. The recruitment development comes forth as Meta's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Zuckerberg tries to win over the current Trump administration. According to the news portal's report, Meta has not announced any direct contracts or agreements with the Pentagon or the National Security Agency (NSA), but like its competitors, Google and Open AI, the media giant is looking to expand its business on the government spectrum. 'Meta is seeing every other big tech firm and reading the tea leaves, seeing that maybe the expected windfall from civilian use of AI is not going to appear,' Shana Marshall, who focuses on international affairs at George Washington University, told the news portal. 'If you are looking for a money spigot that's never going to get turned off, you go to the Pentagon,' said Marshall. Even though Meta primarily operates in the online advertising segment, but the recent job updates and developments suggest that the Big tech firm is likely to expand its business in these ventures. LiveMint couldn't independently verify the report.
Forbes
07-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Meta's Military Ambitions Take Shape Under Trump Administration
Meta Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been on a monthslong charm offensive with the Trump administration Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved Meta is courting national security and former Pentagon officials to help sell its virtual reality and AI services to the federal government, Forbes has learned. Multiple former government officials said they were aware of the recruiting efforts. Meta, which recently opened up its Llama AI model for military use, has long maintained lobbyists in D.C., but almost half a dozen current open roles indicate it is bolstering its efforts to secure lucrative government contracts. The company is seeking two public policy managers, including one to focus on the White House — preferably with a security clearance and previous Pentagon work — to 'lead our outreach to national security and foreign policy agencies within the Executive Branch of the U.S. government on both policy issues and adoption of our technologies.' In January, Meta hired Francis Brennan, a former Trump advisor, to lead strategic communications out of D.C. Another recent hire, who according to their Linkedin worked for an undisclosed federal government agency for more than a decade, posted about joining Meta to focus on its 'intelligence sharing' with the government. 'Whether it's protecting national security or strengthening the platforms that billions rely on, I'm grateful for the opportunities that allow me to give back,' the employee posted on LinkedIn in December. Meta declined to comment. The move comes amid CEO Mark Zuckerberg's ongoing charm offensive to win over the Trump administration, looking for leniency as Meta fights a federal antitrust lawsuit aiming to break it up. After donating $1 million to Trump's inauguration committee, Zuckerberg announced Facebook was laying off its teams of fact checkers — a longtime target of conservatives who claimed Facebook's moderators unfairly penalized them. He abolished the company's diversity team, appointed UFC chief and Trump ally Dana White to Meta's board, and elevated longtime Republican lobbyist Joel Kaplan to chief of global affairs. President Donald Trump once said Zuckerberg 'should be jailed for life,' but appears to have warmed up to the tech leader; they met at Mar-a-Lago in November and the tech chief attended Trump's inauguration. Zuckerberg recently bought a $23 million home in D.C. Meta has not yet announced any direct contacts with the Pentagon or national security agencies, but it's clear that like Google and OpenAI, the social media giant sees vast commercial upside in building a government business. (It has some previous federal contracts for advertising and marketing social media posts, according to procurement records.) 'Meta is seeing every other big tech firm and reading the tea leaves, seeing that maybe the expected windfall from civilian use of AI is not going to appear,' said Shana Marshall, who focuses on international affairs at George Washington University. 'If you are looking for a money spigot that's never going to get turned off, you go to the Pentagon.' Meta's main business has always been online advertising. But current job postings hint at the areas it's targeting. Its virtual reality business Reality Labs is seeking someone with more than a decade of experience working for a federal contractor to 'help drive new partner relationships in the U.S. Government' to sell its emerging technology. (The Pentagon has discussed using virtual reality for combat training since 2019.) Other roles include a marketing head to help the company boost awareness of its open-source AI model Llama with 'developers across the ecosystem, including startups and governments.' Meta, which announced in November that it would allow Llama to be used by the military and national security agencies, said it had been working with Palantir and Scale AI along with defense contractors Leidos, Lockheed Martin, and Booz Allen, the latter of which is using Llama to replace paper documents on the International Space Station. 'It is in both America and the wider democratic world's interest for American open source models to excel and succeed over models from China and elsewhere,' the company said at the time. For years, big tech companies were reluctant to allow their AI technologies to be used by the military, fueled by concerns from outside critics and their own employees that AI could be used to make fatal decisions on the battlefield. But as other Silicon Valley software companies like Palantir and Scale AI secured hundreds of millions in government contracts, big AI companies have recently jumped back on the national security train to support the U.S. military. Google, which in 2016 abandoned a U.S. Air Force contract to label drone footage data using AI — known as Project Maven — updated its user policy in February to allow AI to be used for military use. (When Human Rights Watch and other groups raised concerns, Google defended the change, stating that companies and governments 'should work together to create AI that protects people, promotes global growth and supports national security.') OpenAI, which quietly dropped a ban on military use of its software last year, recently announced a contract with the U.S. Air Force and a partnership with military contractor Anduril to 'ensure that the U.S. Department of Defense and Intelligence Community have access to the most advanced, effective, and safe AI-driven technologies available in the world.' This came a month after AI competitor Anthropic said it would allow its technology to be used by the U.S. military through an agreement with Amazon and Palantir. Last week, Zuckerberg said on a podcast that working with Trump is 'necessary.' "Our default as an American company should be to try to have a productive relationship with whoever is running the government," he said.
Irish Examiner
03-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
Francis Brennan: 'Beautiful' Bali really disappointed me — it was filthy
One of Ireland's most recognisable hoteliers, TV presenter and all-round national treasure, Francis Brennan has been everywhere from the foothills of the Himalayas to the streets of San Francisco. As co-host of long-running RTÉ series At Your Service (he's currently filming season 14) and former proprietor of the famed Park Hotel Kenmare, Francis brings a seasoned traveller's eye to the world. Here, he shares his favourite escapes, most surprising trips, and why a world cruise is still on his wish list. My favourite childhood holiday memory My father was a grocer working seven days a week, so holidays were very scarce. We'd take a half-day on a Monday and go to the seaside. But the one I always remember was going down to Courtown and staying in a caravan with my cousins. I think we were about seven or eight, and it was the first time we were properly away from mam and dad. There were seven of us in the bed. Health and safety wouldn't allow it now! I'll never forget the chips we used to get from the chipper in Courtown with the salt and vinegar. I've never had chips that tasted like that since. My most memorable trip India. I've been there three times over the years and it's just a shake for the senses. The colour, the style, the sheer number of people. I first went over 30 years ago, and then again about five years ago filming At Your Service. The economic transformation in that time was incredible. The first time I went, the Taj Mahal was quiet — a few Indian families and mostly foreign tourists. When I went back, it looked like Croke Park on All-Ireland day. It was very encouraging to see so many Indian people now able to holiday. It was brilliant to see the economic life of India rising. They say it will be the biggest market for all of us in time. Most surprising destination All I ever heard about was how beautiful Bali was. But when I went there on the way back from Australia, I was really disappointed! It was filthy, the beaches weren't nice, and the towns were all shacks. The big hotels — Accor, Méridien and others — went in 35 years ago and built luxury resorts. People go there and think everything is magnificent because the hotels keep their beachfront pristine. But when you leave the hotel, it's a poor show. The sand is the same everywhere, it's what surrounds you that matters. For me, Bali was way below expectations. My favourite hotel Chewton Glen My favourite hotel is Chewton Glen in the New Forest. It was run by a couple called the Skinners, and they were the first people to have a proper country house hotel in England. They had 104 staff — with four painters on staff full-time just to fix scuffs from suitcases! The gardens were magnificent, with huge displays of flowers and a beautiful driveway. The weather in that part of southern England is lovely, and everything about the place was just perfect. My favourite city to visit I love Venice. It's mystical. The canals, the streets, the shops, the food, the opera — everything. It's brilliant for three or four days, and there's plenty to see. You can take the vaporetto out to Murano and watch them make glass, and maybe bring some home in 77 different colours. I was there once for a small luxury hotel conference, and we had the most magnificent dinner in a noble house along the canal. The whole city is like a dream. If you go in March or April, you miss the crowds and have a great time. Most beautiful country Honolulu is my favourite place for a holiday. It's very far from Ireland, which makes it feel even more special when you get there. There's a great atmosphere, always 85 degrees and a breeze. The beach is beautiful, and they keep it that way. Everything is compact, the hotels, shops, restaurants, and everything works well together. I've been twice. Once, I even went scuba diving in a cave and saw fin sharks and electric eels. I still remember feeling a tail flick against my toes! Favourite thing to do while travelling I always do a walking tour. I think it's the best way to orient yourself in a new place. I use companies like GuruWalk or Travel by Locals, and I've had some brilliant experiences, like walking tours of the tiled steps in San Francisco or Grand Central Station in New York. You learn so much. I always do the hop-on and hop-off bus to see everything and decide where to go back to. And I love the theatre. If I'm in London or New York, I'll go to a show every night if I can. My bucket list trip I want to do a world cruise. I've always wanted to, but I can never get the time. The cruises are long —180 days or more — and I can't commit because At Your Service might need me, or one of the shops might. But someday I'll do it. I usually get to eventually.
