In a recent interview with Bloomberg News, Palmer Luckey, the tech entrepreneur known for his work in virtual reality, made a bold prediction about the involvement of artificial intelligence in future warfare. He suggested that it’s a “certainty” AI systems will inadvertently harm innocent people in conflicts, emphasizing the importance of keeping human oversight in military operations involving AI.
Luckey stated, “There will be individuals who fall victim to AI who absolutely shouldn’t have. As AI becomes an integral part of warfare, this is inevitable.” He stressed the need for accountability, stating that having people responsible for these decisions is crucial to developing better solutions and reducing unnecessary civilian casualties.
Despite acknowledging the potential risks associated with AI, Luckey argued that the technology might actually be less dangerous than some of the current systems. “I don’t want AI to cause harm,” he noted, “but, often, the technologies we rely on today are far more detrimental.”
With a net worth of around $2.3 billion per Forbes, Luckey is no stranger to the future implications of technology in warfare. As the founder of Oculus, a virtual reality headset company, he faced dismissal after its acquisition by Meta. He now heads Anduril, a company heavily contracted by the U.S. Department of Defense. Luckey’s departure from Meta was linked to a political donation in 2016 to a PAC supporting former President Donald Trump, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The Bloomberg interview, hosted by Emily Chang, delved into various topics, from China’s geopolitical threat to Luckey’s controversial exit from Meta. Interestingly, Luckey seemed hesitant to mention Trump’s name directly. “I’m not nearly as political as people assume,” he told Chang. He elaborated, “I was ousted from Silicon Valley over a $9,000 political donation. What grabs attention is the novelty of a tech person backing the eventual president that year.”
Chang pointed out that the “person who became president that year” was indeed Trump, who remains a polarizing figure in American politics. Despite this, he appears to be maintaining a lead over President Joe Biden, as noted in the latest polling by the New York Times.
For those interested in technology’s role in defense, the 30-minute Bloomberg interview with Luckey is available on YouTube and offers valuable insights into the future of tech-driven warfare. No matter the outcome of upcoming elections, Luckey’s work on advanced military technologies will likely continue, making it crucial to understand how significant taxpayer funds are being allocated in this sector each year.
