In a recent conversation with Bloomberg News, Palmer Luckey shared a stark prediction: artificial intelligence might inevitably cause unintended casualties in future wars. Luckey emphasizes the importance of keeping humans in the decision-making loop when AI systems are utilized by the U.S. military to prevent unnecessary loss of innocent lives.
Luckey remarked, “It’s certain that AI will cause deaths that shouldn’t happen if it becomes integral to warfare.” He added that ensuring human accountability is essential to drive improvements and minimize civilian casualties.
Although he acknowledges the potential dangers posed by AI, Luckey also argues that it could address current issues which are possibly even more harmful to innocent people using today’s technology. “There’s no desire for AI to perform these tasks,” he explained, “but in many cases, the existing solutions are far worse.”
With an estimated net worth of $2.3 billion according to Forbes, Luckey is well-versed in discussing war-related future tech. As the founder of Oculus, a pioneer in VR headsets, and now the head of Anduril, which has secured multi-billion dollar contracts with the Department of Defense, he speaks with authority. His departure from Meta, following its acquisition of Oculus, was reportedly due to a 2016 political donation to a Trump-supporting PAC, as highlighted by the Wall Street Journal.
In Bloomberg’s video interview, hosted by Emily Chang, Luckey delves into several topics, including the geopolitical tensions with China and his exit from Meta. He noticeably avoids mentioning Trump’s name. “Contrary to popular belief, I’m not as politically inclined as people assume,” Luckey commented to Chang. “I was ousted from Silicon Valley for a $9,000 political donation. People focus on it because it was unusual for someone in tech to support the eventual president that year.”
Chang astutely highlights that the “person who became president that year” was indeed Trump, who, despite continuing to be a polarizing figure, currently leads President Joe Biden in some polls, according to the New York Times.
The entire 30-minute interview, available on YouTube, provides a comprehensive look into how defense tech companies are planning for future warfare. No matter the outcome of upcoming elections, it’s clear that Luckey will remain at the forefront of developing advanced warfare technologies for many years. Understanding the perspectives of such influential figures is crucial, particularly considering the $850 billion in taxpayer money spent on defense annually.
