Anduril has invented a wild new drone flying contest where jobs are the prize 

Anduril, founded by Palmer Luckey, has launched the AI Grand Prix, a novel drone racing competition where drones must fly autonomously, and participants are judged on their software programming skills rather than manual piloting. The event offers substantial incentives, including a $500,000 prize pool and direct job opportunities at Anduril, bypassing the usual recruitment process. Unlike traditional drone races, this contest emphasizes autonomy, aligning with Anduril’s mission to advance unmanned systems without human micromanagement. The drones used in the competition are not Anduril’s own, as their larger drones are unsuitable for the confined racing course in Ohio, where the finals will be held. Instead, the event will utilize drones from another defense tech startup and is organized in partnership with the Drone Champions League and JobsOhio. Luckey expressed enthusiasm for the event’s potential to attract top engineering talent, aiming for at least 50 teams, including university participants. He clarified that while he will attend, he will