A Luckey Man, Indeed
Segment #783
AI in warfare is no longer hypothetical; it's inevitable, says Palmer Luckey, an inventor and founder of the defense technology company Anduril Industries. He takes us inside the high-tech arms race to build AI-powered weapons, "killer robots" and autonomous fighter jets at scale — and makes the counterintuitive case for why this may be the surest path to deterrence and lasting peace. (Followed by Q&A with technologist Bilawal Sidhu) (Recorded at TED2025 on April 8, 2025)
Past:
Palmer Luckey, born in 1992 in Long Beach, California, is a self-taught engineer and entrepreneur. As a teenager, he became obsessed with virtual reality (VR) hardware. Living in a camper trailer, he prototyped high-performance head-mounted displays, leading to the creation of the Oculus Rift DK1 (development kit) around 2012. At age 19, he founded Oculus VR after a successful Kickstarter campaign that revived interest in consumer VR. In 2014, Facebook (now Meta) acquired Oculus for about $2 billion in cash and stock. Luckey continued working there, contributing to products like the Oculus Touch controllers, but was fired in 2017 amid controversy over his political donations and views. This period made him a key figure in kickstarting the modern VR industry.
Palmer Luckey is the founder of defense technology company Anduril Industries, designer of the Oculus Rift, a virtual reality head-mounted display, and the founder of Oculus VR, which was acquired by Facebook in 2014. https://www.anduril.com/profile/palme...
Present (as of February 2026):
Luckey, now 33, is the founder and a key leader of Anduril Industries, a defense technology company he started in 2017. Anduril focuses on AI-powered autonomous systems, including drones, sensors, surveillance towers, and software platforms like Lattice for national security and military applications. The company has grown rapidly, securing major contracts (e.g., with U.S. Customs and Border Protection) and collaborating on projects like mixed-reality headsets for the military (with Meta). In mid-2025, Anduril raised funds at a $30.5 billion valuation, and recent reports indicate it's in talks for new funding that could push its valuation over $60 billion. Luckey's net worth is estimated at $3.5 billion (per Forbes). He also founded ModRetro (retro gaming hardware like the Chromatic handheld) and maintains a personal blog sharing insights on tech, Oculus history, and more. He's known for his distinctive style (mullet, Hawaiian shirts) and outspoken views on defense, AI, manufacturing, and technology's role in national security. He's married with a child.
Future:
Luckey remains deeply involved in Anduril, which is positioned to disrupt traditional defense contractors by emphasizing software, autonomy, and efficiency. The company is expanding manufacturing (e.g., "Arsenal-1" facility in Ohio) and pushing AI-driven innovations in hardware production—he's predicted AI could drastically lower costs, making vehicles like a Ford F-150 affordable at around $1,000 in our lifetimes. Anduril may pursue an IPO in the coming years. While he has expressed a preference for creative pursuits like VR headsets, video games, toys, and spaceships, he views defense work as critically important for national security and geopolitical impact. Recent comments suggest ongoing interest in VR/AR (including military applications) and broader tech like AI in manufacturing. His trajectory points to continued influence in defense tech, potentially reshaping U.S. military capabilities amid global tensions.