During a recent chat with Bloomberg News, tech mogul Palmer Luckey shared a bold prediction about the future of warfare, emphasizing that Artificial Intelligence systems will inevitably result in the loss of innocent lives. Luckey underscores the importance of ensuring that human oversight remains integral when the U.S. military employs AI technology.
“There will definitely be situations where AI causes casualties that shouldn’t have happened. If we integrate AI deeply into our warfare strategies, that’s a given,” Luckey stated. He emphasized, “It’s vital to maintain accountability with humans; that’s the only way to push for better solutions and minimize unintended casualties or civilian deaths.”
While acknowledging AI’s potential pitfalls, Luckey argues that it could also address current issues that are, arguably, more dangerous to civilians with today’s tech.
“I’m not advocating for AI to operate in this manner, but honestly, the current technologies often pose greater threats,” he noted.
With a net worth of around $2.3 billion according to Forbes, Luckey is well-versed in the tech and future warfare landscape. He founded the VR company Oculus and, after its acquisition by Meta, parted ways with the firm. He’s now at the helm of Anduril, boasting multi-billion dollar contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense. Luckey’s departure from Meta followed his 2016 political donation to a PAC supporting Donald Trump, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
In the interview conducted by Emily Chang, Luckey delves into various topics, from China’s global challenges to details of his exit from Meta. Notably, he avoids mentioning Trump directly.
“I’m not nearly as politically inclined as people assume,” Luckey explained to Chang. “Silicon Valley ousted me after I made a $9,000 political donation. What captures attention is the novelty of someone in tech supporting the individual who became president that year.”
Chang highlighted that the “individual who became president” was indeed Trump—an influential figure polling ahead of President Joe Biden, if recent New York Times reports are accurate, despite concerns about U.S. safety and security.
The full 30-minute interview exploring Luckey and his company is accessible on YouTube. It’s a valuable watch to grasp how defense tech contractors perceive the future. Regardless of November’s electoral outcome, Luckey will likely continue crafting cutting-edge war technologies for decades. Listening to these insights helps to understand where $850 billion of taxpayer money is spent annually.
