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https://warpcast.com/~/channel/clonefyi
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ted (not lasso)
@ted
Palmer Luckey / Anduril and Zuck / Meta are collabing on XR systems for the US Military. crazy full circle since Zuck acquired Palmer and Oculus years ago, then fired him, and then Palmer founded Anduril. Funded through private capital, not any taxpayer support, and designed to save US military both $$ and lives.
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keccers
@keccers.eth
You write this like they are going to give it to the government for free lol
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ted (not lasso)
@ted
how
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keccers
@keccers.eth
If it is actually deployed we will pay for it, no? With a markup on the time? Idk. We always pay! To me the way you say “privately funded” almost implies this is an act of altruism.
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ted (not lasso)
@ted
in what world does privately funded = altruism
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keccers
@keccers.eth
Because to me, the framing reads as if the taxpayer doesn’t pay at all. Initial capital being private is irrelevant. We are still the buyer. It’s functionally the same as if we contracted the work.
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ted (not lasso)
@ted
eh, i do think the distinction around initial private funding is more meaningful than irrelevant. early R&D is highest risk, lowest ROI and historically where govts have struggled with cost overruns and inefficiency. private capital fronting that risk means the govt (and taxpayer) only pays if the tech works and is adopted ideally at lower cost and faster timelines. example: SpaceX, which slashed NASA's launch costs by 40%+ in some cases.
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Spookydog
@spookydog
The idea that Anduril or Meta working with the U.S. government will save taxpayers money is laughable, its way more complicated than that. “Private capital fronting early R&D risk” often just means the costs show up later, with markup. SpaceX is a cherry-picked example. For every one of those, there’s a Palantir, built on government contracts and known for charging sky-high prices for systems that are hard to replace. Once adopted, the government usually has little leverage to negotiate better terms. And “private” R&D rarely happens in a vacuum. These companies still benefit from public research, infrastructure, tax breaks, and political access. The taxpayer still pays just in a more convoluted and less accountable way.
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