AI in Action: Training Humans and Machines in a Joint Environment

In this episode of AI in Action, host Andy Fawkes speaks with Sébastien Lozé, VP of Market Innovation & Ecosystems at Aechelon Technology Inc., about the evolving relationship between simulation, AI, and autonomous systems in defence.

Lozé brings over two decades of experience in the simulation industry, having worked with organisations including CAE, Bohemia Interactive Simulations, and Epic Games, where he helped adapt Unreal Engine for the simulation sector. Now at Aechelon, a California-based company with more than 1,200 multi-channel devices deployed for the US Department of Defense and allied nations, he is focused on understanding community challenges and shaping the company's product strategy.

The conversation covers how simulation is no longer just a tool for training humans; it is increasingly central to how AI and autonomous systems learn to operate, particularly in defence contexts. Lozé explains how the battlespace is changing, and why training environments must evolve to reflect a world where humans and machines operate side by side.

The episode also touches on Aechelon's recent developments, including Project Orbion, a partnership with Niantic Spatial, BlackSky, Iceye, and Distance to develop an AI-enabled digital twin of the Earth, as well as a new relationship with Shield AI that connects simulation with the physical autonomy world.

One of the episode's standout moments comes when Lozé addresses the gap between perception and reality in AI adoption, pointing out that for many organisations, the future they are waiting for is already here.

For professionals working in simulation and training, this is a timely conversation about where the industry is heading and how to be part of shaping it.