Blog Archive

For the last two years, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) has been the primary bridge between raw language models and private organizational data. We have largely relied on vector search (a method that converts text into numerical embeddings) to find information based on semantic similarity. This was a massive improvement over traditional keyword search; however, as we move through early 2026, the limitations of "pure" vector RAG have become clear. Now, federal agencies and government contractors are moving toward a more sophisticated architecture called Hybrid RAG.

For the last several years, the primary focus of AI development was raw capability; we wanted models that were faster, smarter, and more creative. However, as we move through early 2026, the conversation has shifted toward the physical and digital security of the models themselves. With the recent passage of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the federal government is officially treating AI as a critical supply chain asset. For any firm operating in the defense industrial base, this means that security is moving beyond simple access control; it is moving into the very data used to train the machine.