In a recent conversation with Bloomberg News, Palmer Luckey expressed a stark certainty about the role of artificial intelligence in future warfare. He warned that AI systems will inevitably lead to the unfortunate loss of innocent lives. This reality, he contends, underscores the essential need for humans to remain integral in the decision-making process when AI is utilized by the U.S. military.
Luckey explained, “There will be people who are killed by AI who should not have been killed. That is a certainty if artificial intelligence becomes a core part of the way that we fight wars.” He emphasized that keeping people accountable is crucial for driving improvements and minimizing unintended casualties.
While acknowledging the potential perils of AI, Luckey also pointed out its ability to address current issues that could arguably be more harmful to civilians than some existing technologies. “I don’t want AI to do these things, but a lot of times the existing technologies are much worse,” he remarked.
Palmer Luckey, who Forbes estimates to be worth about $2.3 billion, appears to have significant insights into the future technological landscape of warfare. Originating from Long Beach, he founded Oculus, a pioneering VR headset company, but departed after its acquisition by Meta. Presently, he leads Anduril, a company that holds lucrative contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense. Luckey’s departure from Meta was reportedly linked to his 2016 donation to a political action committee supporting former president Donald Trump, as noted by the Wall Street Journal.
The Bloomberg interview, conducted by Emily Chang, covers a wide array of topics, including the global challenge posed by China and Luckey’s turbulent exit from Meta. Interestingly, Luckey seemed particularly cautious about mentioning Trump by name during the discussion.
“I’m actually not nearly as political of a person as people think,” Luckey shared with Chang. “I got kicked out of Silicon Valley because I made a $9,000 political donation. The reason that people pay attention to it at the end of the day is because it’s novel for a person in tech to have supported the person who became president that year.”
Chang reminds viewers that “the person who became president that year” was Trump, a controversial figure who, according to a New York Times report, is still polling ahead of President Joe Biden, posing ongoing concerns for U.S. safety and security.
The 30-minute video interview with Luckey, available on YouTube, is certainly worth a watch for anyone interested in the perspectives of tech industry insiders regarding the future of defense. Regardless of the outcome in the upcoming elections, it seems Luckey will continue to shape advanced military technology for many years. Hearing from those actively involved helps illuminate how enormous taxpayer budgets, reaching around $850 billion annually, are being allocated.
