In a recent college talk at Pepperdine University, Palmer Luckey, the founder of defense tech startup Anduril Industries, expressed his concerns about potential restrictions on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the military. Luckey emphasized the need for the United States and its allies to leverage AI technology to counter adversaries such as Russia and China, who are already utilizing AI capabilities.
Luckey highlighted a “shadow campaign” being waged by adversaries in the United Nations to dissuade Western countries from employing AI for weapons or defense purposes. He questioned the moral implications of not utilizing AI systems that can bypass Russian or Chinese jamming systems and strike with precision, leading to the use of larger bombs and increased collateral damage.
The Anduril Industries founder criticized European countries for their lack of understanding regarding how adversaries like Russia, China, and Iran exploit Europe to undermine Western powers. He warned that Iran would gain access to advanced AI in the future, while China already possesses significant AI capabilities. Luckey stressed the importance of ensuring that AI remains in the hands of “good people” while preventing its misuse by “bad people.”
Anduril Industries, valued at $14 billion, is a prominent defense tech company that supplies autonomous technology to the US military and Ukraine. The startup, founded by Luckey in 2017, has secured contracts with various Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security agencies. Their products include autonomous sentry towers deployed along the Mexican border and Altius-600M attack drones provided to Ukraine.
During the talk, Luckey highlighted that all of Anduril’s technology operates autonomously and relies on its AI platform, called Lattice. The company recently raised funds in a Series F round, reaching a valuation of $14 billion. Luckey has expressed intentions to take Anduril Industries public in the near future.
Luckey’s stance aligns with other Silicon Valley peers who advocate for the use of technology in the military, often selling products in this domain. Alex Karp, the CEO of Palantir, another defense tech company, has also voiced support for Western powers, Ukraine, and Israel. However, both companies have faced scrutiny regarding their clients and operations.