NestAI, the European physical AI lab building adaptive intelligence for unmanned systems with a focus on defence and critical infrastructure, has appointed Patrik Gayer as Vice President of Global Affairs. Gayer will build and lead NestAI’s public policy, government relations, and external affairs as the company expands across European markets.

European security is facing demands not seen in a generation. The technology to strengthen European defence and security is developing faster than the processes designed to adopt it. As AI becomes central to how defence capability is built and deployed, governments need new ways to evaluate, procure, and integrate these systems into existing defence structures. Gayer’s role is to build the bridge between the AI capabilities NestAI can deliver and the governments working to keep their societies safe.

Gayer brings over a decade of experience at the intersection of technology, public policy, and business. He has held senior roles at AMD, Silo AI, and Tesla. He also served as Special Adviser to Finland’s Minister of Defence and consulted for international defence primes like Lockheed Martin. He previously worked closely with NestAI founder Peter Sarlin at Silo AI.

“I can’t think of anything more important to build right now than an ambitious European technology company in defence and critical infrastructure. NestAI has a founder who’s done it before and a proven team building at the frontier of physical AI in the real world. My job is to ensure governments and partners understand what NestAI can do and the value cutting-edge technology can provide. That means helping them move at the speed of innovation that their security requires and their citizens expect,” said Gayer.

“NestAI was founded to build physical AI that works in the real world, and to do it in Europe. Patrik has spent his career where technology, policy, and government meet. That combination is rare, and we are very pleased to have him join the team as we take our technology to customers across the continent,” said Peter Sarlin, founder and chairman of NestAI.

Gayer will be based in Helsinki and lead a team focused on governments, EU institutions, and NATO.

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About NestAI

NestAI is a European AI lab for defence delivering the adaptive operating system for modern battlefield operations.

We develop adaptive intelligence for unmanned and command systems: AI that continuously learns from operational data and adapts to changing conditions. NestOS, our open modular platform, keeps capability evolution under sovereign European control.

Founded by Peter Sarlin, whose previous company Silo AI became Europe's largest AI acquisition, NestAI brings together more than 150 leading engineers and scientists. Our partners include leading European defence forces and industry partners like  the Finnish Defence Forces, Nokia, and Patria.

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