Billionaire venture capitalist Joe Lonsdale is calling for a change in U.S. military strategy, criticizing costly and failed attempts to rebuild countries like Afghanistan while fighting for technology-based solutions.
Lonsdale, co-founder of Palantir and an investor in Anduril Industries, told podcast host Dave Rubin this week that he sees a future where autonomous armed ships, AI-powered drones and microwave-based defense systems will replace traditional combat, minimizing risks and maximizing efficiency. Lonsdale argued that these innovations could protect American interests without shedding the blood of U.S. troops.
DAVE RUBIN: Do you think technology can solve our [national security] problems? Wars look very, very different from the present. Even about how they look now.
JOE LONSDALE: It’s a big deal. I think we wasted a ton of money in Afghanistan. I think we had stupid adventures. I was very much in favor of our technology, which helps fight and kill thousands of terrorists. I was very much in favor of eliminating the bad guys. I was very opposed to putting trillions of dollars in these areas to try to build a broken civilization that is not our job. We should have built our own civilization. I’m very pro-American, but part of being pro-American is to wage these wars without sacrificing American lives and keeping people very scared of us so we don’t have to fight and they do what they should do. We have a bunch of companies right now that are kind of replacing the way primes work. And so, for example, in the water, you want to have thousands or tens of thousands of smart and capable autonomous weapons ships that coordinate together. That’s what you want. And then, you know, we sent 31 tanks to Ukraine, and 20 were destroyed.
For the same price, or even less, you could have sent 10,000 tiny small vehicles that are smart, have combat weapons, and are coordinated. There are all these new ways in which you can use mass production with advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence, and you don’t put American lives at risk. You turn the bad guys, and much cheaper you can do it.
Then the second is really cool, just mentioned, we have an enemy too, as you can see China, where they fly hundreds of thousands of drones. It’s insane. So we have something called Epirus that has now been introduced. It’s like a force field, but it’s a burst of microwave radiation in a cone. From miles away, we can turn off hundreds of drones per shot.
DAVE RUBIN: It feels like the next version of the Iron Dome or something in a way.
JOE LONSDALE: It’s a bit like Star Trek. But such things are needed to fight back, instead of wasting million-dollar missiles to shoot down one of these drones. And there are so many of them. What you need is electronic warfare. So there are all sorts of new things that we do that are really cool and take the best out of Silicon Valley, combining with the best and, by the way, who doesn’t want a really great shield? It’s a great thing for civilization that shields are now easier to build. So that’s the kind of thing we have to do.
Meanwhile, as RealClearDefense notes, it’s approaching Terminator…
The role of AI in maritime warfare entails additional strategic risks. Autonomous systems and decision-making platforms can change the nature of maritime conflicts, making engagement faster and less predictable. This increases the risk of escalation in already tense areas, such as the South China Sea. Misidentification or unintentional action by AI systems can lead to conflicts, and the lack of international agreements on the use of AI in military applications increases the possibility of miscalculations. For example, an AI-powered marine drone may perceive a civilian or non-hazardous ship as hostile, provoking unnecessary or disproportionate reactions. Such incidents can trigger a chain reaction in high-voltage zones, which can draw major powers into conflict.
At a broader strategic level, AI is changing the balance of power in maritime security. Countries with advanced AI capabilities have a clear advantage, as they can integrate complex technologies into their maritime operations, creating a technological gap between themselves and less developed countries. These inequalities could lead to the concentration of power among a few dominant states, undermining joint maritime security efforts. In addition, adversaries with access to AI capabilities, such as autonomous warships or intelligent cyberattack platforms, may question the dominance of traditionally superior naval forces, creating a level playing field in asymmetric conflicts.
AI also has a strategic impact on economic security. Global supply chains depend to a large extent on the safety and efficient movement of goods across the oceans, and maritime security disruptions can have serious economic consequences. AI-based systems that enhance port operations and maritime logistics can mitigate these risks, but their growing dependence on interconnected digital networks creates vulnerabilities that could be exploited by adversaries. A targeted cyberattack on a large port or shipping lane can not only disrupt trade, but also destabilize the region’s economy and create a pulsating effect on the global market.
The integration of AI into maritime security poses ethical and legal challenges. Accountability for decisions taken by AI-systems is critical, especially in the case of incidents involving autonomous vessels or armed platforms. Determining liability in case of error or failure becomes difficult when human supervision is minimal. In addition, unequal access to AI technologies can exacerbate differences in maritime security, leaving smaller countries at a disadvantage compared to technologically advanced countries. These challenges could undermine trust between allies and weaken joint efforts to ensure the stability of the marine environment.
Watch the full interview below (discussion of the fight begins at 3:30 p.m.):
