Palmer Luckey Receives President鈥檚 Award for Excellence in Freedom During President鈥檚 Speaker Series Event
On Tuesday, October 1, 2024, president Jim Gash (JD 鈥�93) welcomed American inventor, innovator, and entrepreneur Palmer Luckey for the first installment of the President鈥檚 Speaker Series of the 2024鈥�2025 academic year. Luckey, the founder of defense technology company Anduril Industries, designer of the Oculus Rift virtual reality head-mounted display, and the Founder of Oculus VR, discussed ethical applications of AI in the defense and weapons industry, his journey to success, and his views on freedom.
Palmer Luckey
In an interview with President Gash before a live audience of 400 at Smothers Theatre and live streamed on YouTube and X, Luckey began the conversation by discussing his unconventional journey to success, which included homeschooling and an early interest in journalism. He discovered, however, that a traditional education wasn鈥檛 the best fit for his ambitions. He attributed his success in developing a virtual reality headset and thriving in a challenging industry to his ability to think outside the bounds of conventional systems, unencumbered by the need for formal credentials.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 focus on the next step in VR technology, but instead researched and tackled the fundamental issues that had plagued the industry," he said. 鈥淚 represent the 鈥榦utside the system鈥� guy. I鈥檓 not going to work on the thing that鈥檚 here and now. I鈥檓 going to work on where I think it鈥檚 going.鈥�
Reflecting on his career, Luckey explained his motivation to enter the defense and weapons industry, which eventually led to the founding of Anduril Industries, a defense technology company that specializes in advanced autonomous systems named after the protagonist鈥檚 sword from The Lord of the Rings. He emphasized that a strong sense of purpose drives his work at Anduril, as he is committed to addressing national security challenges through innovative technology.
Palmer Luckey and President Jim Gash
鈥淲e鈥檙e not just trying to build cool stuff. We鈥檙e doing it for a greater purpose, and we need to always remember that,鈥� Luckey said. Luckey also addressed widespread misconceptions about incorporating AI into defense systems, pointing out that the true threat comes not only from falling behind in technology but also from individuals with harmful intentions exploiting underdeveloped AI. He stressed the importance of staying technologically ahead of adversaries for national security, noting that AI is already in the hands of hostile nations. Luckey argued that preventing AI鈥檚 development for positive uses would be detrimental, as advancing technology for the greater good is crucial to countering potential threats.
鈥淒o I fear AI? I fear people using AI for bad purposes,鈥� Luckey explained. 鈥淚鈥檓 not worried about more advanced AI being the problem. I鈥檓 worried about dumb AI being used by evil people. Good people need to have access to AI, and you don't want the bad people to have access, but unfortunately they already do.鈥�
Luckey cited Howard Hughes and Walt Disney as major influences in his life due to their dedication to national service, noting both were 鈥渉uge supporters of the nation and built things on their own dime that the government didn鈥檛 think was possible.鈥� He also shared his view of freedom as "self-determination," emphasizing its importance for individuals, communities, and nations.
Luckey continued, 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e building a defense company, you鈥檙e not building weapons because the weapons are cool, because the blade is bright, or for the keenness of the edge. You鈥檙e doing it really for that which it protects.鈥�
Palmer Luckey and President Jim Gash
The event concluded with Gash presenting Luckey with Pepperdine鈥檚 inaugural President鈥檚 Award for Excellence in Freedom. 鈥淧almer, you have been a great defender of American values, and of freedom specifically, with not only your words but your actions,鈥� said Gash. 鈥淲e would all like to thank you for your immense efforts in ensuring鈥攖hrough unmatched innovation in defense technology鈥攖hat ours is not the generation that sees freedom go extinct.鈥�
The next President鈥檚 Speaker Series event will take place on Thursday, October 31, 2024, featuring Oklahoma governor Kevin Stitt and Rick Caruso. For full broadcasts of Palmer Luckey鈥檚 conversation and previous events in the series, visit the President鈥檚 Speaker Series website.