In high-stakes environments, the difference between escalation and resolution often comes down to a single conversation. Texas-based Smarter Reality prepares defense, law enforcement, and emergency response personnel for those moments with its immersive simulations in communication, leadership, and decision-making under pressure.
Since 2015, Smarter Reality has developed advanced simulation software, synthetic training environments, and artificial intelligence-enabled wargames for the U.s. Department of Defense and public safety sectors. That sustained innovation and adaptability are why Smarter Reality was recognized as a 2025 Honoree in the Enduring Businesses category of the CO—100 Awards.
Here’s how Smarter Reality’s tools are reshaping how organizations prepare for conflict and helping them prioritize communication before confrontation.
Building conflict resolution skills through immersive technology
At the center of Smarter Reality’s work is the Conflict Resolution Simulator (CRS), a scalable virtual reality platform that uses AI-powered conversational avatars to train users in communication, de-escalation, and leadership skills. Originally developed for the U.S. Air Force Academy, CRS allows users to practice difficult conversations in realistic, emotionally charged scenarios and receive actionable feedback afterward.
Unlike traditional public safety VR systems that focus on the use of force and require significant capital, CRS offers a powerful interpersonal communication training platform in a low-cost, commercial VR headset. Its accessibility allows small law enforcement agencies, first responders, and medical personnel to access repeatable and trustworthy communication training through rich, experiential VR and dynamic, flexible AI-enabled conversations without a massive upfront investment.
CRS reflects the company’s core philosophy of focusing on skills “left of bang”— the verbal and interpersonal tools that prevent crises from escalating to violence. Communication is a trainable skill. By emphasizing conversation over confrontation, Smarter Reality’s technology seeks to reduce liability, improve officer safety, and help institutions build trust within the communities they serve.
“CRS is an outgrowth of the company’s values by helping communities reduce conflict, improve communication, and enhance understanding across cultures and stakeholders,” explained CEO Frank Coppersmith.
On how generative AI tools reshaped defense procurement priorities, Smarter Reality CEO Frank Coppersmith said, ‘Overnight, we had to retool our design and production processes and upskill our team.’
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Ensuring longevity through adaptability and technical reinvention
Smarter Reality’s longevity is rooted in its ability to evolve alongside rapidly shifting defense and technology landscapes. That adaptability was tested with the rise of generative AI.
“Overnight, we had to retool our design and production processes and upskill our team,” Coppersmith said, describing how the emergence of generative AI tools reshaped defense procurement priorities.
Rather than resist the shift, Smarter Reality leaned into it. Engineers and designers were given time and autonomy to master AI technologies, stepping away from routine work to innovate. That investment directly led to the expansion of CRS into commercial and public safety markets, which created new revenue streams independent of defense contracts.
“This pivot enabled us to develop the Conflict Resolution Simulator, addressing urgent, unmet needs in defense and law enforcement training,” Coppersmith added.
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Creating a culture of empowerment and innovation
At the core of Smarter Reality’s success is its employees, many of whom have worked together for more than a decade. The company invests in employee development and treats its team members as product owners, encouraging them to take creative risks and giving them direct exposure to end users and stakeholders.
One of Smarter Reality’s defining strategies is its use of dual-use technology solutions that serve both defense and commercial markets. For example, the company’s machine vision technology, developed for the U.S. Air Force to find and evaluate temporary airfields across the Pacific, is directly applicable to commercial aviation, supporting remote air ambulance flights and emergency landings.
“Dual-use technology allows us to develop mission-essential capabilities for the Department of War that can be readily adapted to civilian use,” Coppersmith explained. “In this way, feedback from diverse stakeholders across government and commercial users brings about rapid improvement and allows us to return value to taxpayers in the form of new safety and operational improvements.”
Coppersmith noted that Smarter Reality’s technological investments focus on keeping the team at the forefront of innovation.
“Beyond accessing advanced AI and cloud systems, we develop proprietary technology, with multiple patents awarded over the past four years,” he said. “This combination of skilled talent and unique tech enables us to address complex client challenges effectively, maintaining a competitive edge.”
As a CO—100 Enduring Businesses Honoree, Smarter Reality exemplifies how sustained innovation, principled design, and a commitment to human-centered solutions can help institutions prepare for the moments that matter most.
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