Palmer Luckey has some strong views on the future of warfare, especially when it involves AI. In a recent chat with Bloomberg News, he emphasized that the use of artificial intelligence in military operations could inevitably lead to the loss of innocent lives. Luckey argues that it’s vital to ensure human oversight whenever AI systems are utilized by the U.S. military.
“There will be instances where AI will mistakenly take lives,” Luckey stated. “This is a given if AI becomes integral to our combat strategies. It’s imperative that we keep humans responsible because that accountability is our best bet for minimizing these mishaps and reducing harm to civilians.”
While he’s aware of AI’s risks, Luckey also believes it offers solutions to current problems that might pose even greater dangers to non-combatants than AI itself might.
“I’m not advocating for AI to handle these tasks, but the current technology often falls short,” he explained.
A man who has made a name for himself in future tech, Luckey, who Forbes reports has a net worth of around $2.3 billion, is no stranger to this field. He’s the brain behind Oculus, the VR headset company, and currently heads Anduril—an enterprise holding billions in defense contracts. His departure from Meta after Oculus’s acquisition traces back to a controversial $9,000 donation to a pro-Trump political action committee, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
In Emily Chang’s interview with him, available on Bloomberg, Luckey delves into various topics, ranging from China’s geopolitical influence to his controversial exit from Meta. Intriguingly, he seems to sidestep mentioning Trump by name.
“I’m really not as political as people think,” he confessed to Chang. “The furor around my exit was due to a political donation, which is rare in tech circles, especially one supporting the then-president.”
Chang underscores that the “then-president” was Trump, who remains a contentious figure, reportedly leading in some polls against President Joe Biden, according to the latest from the New York Times.
For those interested, the full 30-minute interview sheds light on how defense tech companies like Luckey’s anticipate the future. Regardless of the political scene in November, it’s clear that Luckey plans to advance groundbreaking tech for warfare for many years. Understanding these developments offers insights into the allocation of $850 billion in taxpayers’ money each year, and it’s a conversation worth engaging with.
