Anduril’s Palmer Luckey makes an ethical case for using AI in war: ‘There is no moral high ground in using inferior technology’
Palmer Luckey, co-founder of defense tech startup Anduril Industries, recently made headlines during an appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” where he staunchly defended the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in military applications. Luckey argued that in the high-stakes environment of warfare, employing the most advanced technology available is not just beneficial but morally imperative. He emphasized that there is “no moral high ground in using inferior technology,” particularly when it comes to life-and-death decisions on the battlefield. This statement comes at a time when a growing number of defense tech startups, alongside traditional defense contractors, are developing autonomous AI weapons and systems, raising concerns about the readiness and ethical implications of such technologies in combat scenarios.
Luckey’s comments reflect a broader trend within the defense industry, as companies like Anduril aim to modernize military capabilities through innovative technologies. Founded in 2017, Anduril has already secured significant contracts, including a $22 billion partnership with the U.S. Army to develop the Integrated Visual Augmentation System, which integrates augmented and virtual reality into wearable devices for soldiers. During the interview, Luckey pointed out that the development of advanced tools like the EagleEye, which places mission command and AI directly into soldiers’ helmets, showcases the potential of AI to enhance operational effectiveness while minimizing collateral damage. He argued that the application of cutting-edge technology is essential for ensuring the safety and efficiency of military operations, stating, “You need to be as certain as you can in anything that you do.”
Luckey’s perspective is underscored by the increasing reliance on drones and AI in military operations, a trend that has gained momentum under recent U.S. administrations. He noted that the “Pandora’s box” of AI in warfare was opened long ago, citing historical advancements such as anti-radiation missiles. This sentiment raises critical questions about the ethical boundaries of using AI in combat and the potential consequences of such technologies on global security. As Anduril and similar companies continue to push the envelope in defense innovation, the conversation surrounding the moral implications of AI in warfare is more relevant than ever, highlighting the need for a careful examination of the technology’s role in shaping the future of military engagements.
Palmer Luckey cofounded the defense tech startup Anduril in 2017.
PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images
Anduril cofounder Palmer Luckey defended the use of AI on the battlefield on “Fox News Sunday.”
“There’s no moral high ground in using inferior technology,” Luckey said.
Anduril secured an Army contract in February to develop advanced wearable technology for soldiers.
Anduril cofounder
Palmer Luckey
defended the use of AI technology to make life-and-death decisions in war on Sunday.
A group of defense tech startups that includes Anduril, along with traditional defense companies, is developing autonomous AI weapons and tools for use in conflicts around the world, worrying some who say the technology is not ready for such high-stakes environments.
“When it comes to life and death decision-making, I think that it is too morally fraught an area, it is too critical of an area, to not apply the best technology available to you, regardless of what it is,” Luckey told journalist Shannon Bream on “Fox News Sunday.”
“Whether it’s AI or quantum, or anything else. If you’re talking about killing people, you need to be minimizing the amount of collateral damage. You need to be as certain as you can in anything that you do.”
Luckey added that it’s important to be “as effective as possible.”
“So, to me, there’s no moral high ground in using inferior technology, even if it allows you to say things like, ‘We never let a robot decide who lives and who dies,'” Luckey said.
Anduril Industries, founded in 2017, is a defense tech company focused on developing autonomous systems. The company’s mission is to modernize the US military through various technologies, including surveillance devices, air vehicles, and autonomous weapons. Lattice, Anduril’s AI software platform, powers its tech.
Before Anduril, Luckey founded virtual reality company
Oculus VR
in 2012. He sold the company to Facebook two years later for $2 billion in cash and stock.
In February, Anduril announced it would take over a
$22 billion contract
between Microsoft and the Army. The partnership, which the Defense Department approved in April, means Anduril now oversees the
Integrated Visual Augmentation System
, a program to develop wearable devices for soldiers that integrate advanced augmented reality and virtual reality technologies.
The company unveiled
EagleEye
, which the company said “puts mission command and AI directly into the warfighter’s helmet,” in October.
During his “Fox News Sunday” interview, Luckey said he cofounded Anduril because he wanted to “get people out of the tech industry, working on problems that I thought were not so important — advertising, social media, entertainment — and put them to work on defense problems, national security problems. Problems that really matter.”
Advanced technology is transforming the way the military operates, from
administrative tasks
to its
on-the-field capabilities
.
Drones have emerged as
a crucial tool
in recent years, helping new defense industry startups secure government contracts and funding. Under the Trump administration, which has
invested heavily in AI
and expressed interest in
nuclear weapons testing
, the technology defense sector is booming.
Luckey said in April that the United States had long ago opened ”
Pandora’s box,
” and that there was no going back on the use of AI in war.
“I’ll get confronted by journalists who say, ‘Oh, well, you know, we shouldn’t open Pandora’s box,'” he said. “And my point to them is that Pandora’s box was opened a long time ago with anti-radiation missiles that seek out surface air missile launchers.”
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