In a recent conversation with Bloomberg News, Palmer Luckey made a bold prediction: it’s inevitable that artificial intelligence systems will result in the death of innocent civilians in future wartime scenarios. Luckey, a recognized figure in tech and defense, emphasized the critical need to keep humans actively involved when deploying AI in U.S. military operations.
“There will, unfortunately, be instances where AI is responsible for the loss of innocent lives. That’s an unavoidable consequence if artificial intelligence becomes integrated into modern warfare,” Luckey stated. He stressed, “It’s essential that humans stay accountable. That’s the only way to drive innovation toward reducing unintended casualties and minimizing harm to civilians.”
While he acknowledges these risks, Luckey also believes AI has the potential to address existing challenges that currently pose greater risks to innocents than emerging AI technologies.
“I’m not advocating for AI to undertake these tasks. However, the technologies we have now can be far worse,” he remarked.
Luckey, with an estimated worth of $2.3 billion according to Forbes, speaks from a place of informed experience regarding future tech in warfare. As the founder of Oculus, Luckey ventured into virtual reality before moving on to lead Anduril, a company securing billions in U.S. Department of Defense contracts. His departure from Meta reportedly stemmed from a political donation controversy during the 2016 election, as highlighted by the Wall Street Journal.
In a video interview with Emily Chang of Bloomberg, Luckey addressed various topics, from global tensions with China to his ouster from Meta. Notably, he seemed hesitant to mention Donald Trump’s name explicitly.
“I’m honestly not as political as people assume,” Luckey explained to Chang. “I was essentially booted from Silicon Valley for donating $9,000 politically. The only reason it drew attention is that it’s unusual for tech figures to support the eventual president that year.”
Chang noted how this “person who became president,” Donald Trump, still poses a divisive figure, polling ahead of President Joe Biden, according to the latest from the New York Times.
For those intrigued by the intersection of tech and defense, the 30-minute Bloomberg video on Luckey and his company, available on YouTube, offers valuable insight. As the military tech landscape evolves, understanding where taxpayer funds—amounting to $850 billion annually—are directed, especially toward advanced systems for future conflicts, becomes increasingly important.
