Palmer Luckey, the eccentric founder of defense tech unicorn Anduril Industries, appeared at Reindustrialize 2025 through a robotic humanoid avatar.
Dialing in through a VR headset, the Oculus founder suggested that Anduril might one day build American-made computers. He remained coy beyond that and made clear that Anduril’s focus now is defense systems like autonomous drones, underwater robots, and the IVAS combat goggles it’s developing with Meta.
The San Francisco-based startup Foundation built and operated the humanoid robot that represented Luckey. Sporting a wig and a Hawaiin shirt, the robotic Luckey delivered remarks before talking with tech journalist Ashee Vance.
During the interview, Luckey said Anduril has no intention of joining the humanoid robotics race. He said Anduril will partner with other companies if humanoids are needed as part of a defense project. He also expressed concern about China’s rapidly advancing capabilities in humanoid robotics as the People’s Republic aims to lead the emerging market by 2027.
“I haven’t actually harped on where the machines come from, as long as they are machines in our friend network, our friends list, and are as good as the ones that are being made by our adversaries,” he said. “And that is the thing that I’m most concerned about, is that some of these Chinese machines are actually surpassing the quality of anyone in the Western super friends group.”
Foundation was launched in 2024 with $11 million in seed funding. It’s led by Sankaet Pathak, former CEO of the fintech firm Synapse. Another co-founder is Mike LeBlanc, a former US Marine who helped found Cobalt AI, a security robotics company.
Foundation unveiled its flagship humanoid robot, the Phantom MK1, earlier in 2025. They’re developing the general-purpose robotic humanoid for applications in manufacturing, logistics, and defense. The robot that channeled the Anduril founder is a newer bipedal model, though its movements on stage appeared limited to the upper body.
While leading humanoid developers like Boston Dynamics, Unitree Robotics, and Agility Robotics have pledged to not build machines for lethal applications, Foundation is notably eager. According to The Information, the startup is trying to raise $100 million for a $1 billion valuation.
““Defense is crucial for building and safeguarding the infrastructure necessary for making life self-sustaining,” Pathak said on X earlier in 2025. “Unlike most humanoid robot companies in the US, which have committed to non-weaponization, we believe it’s essential for our robots to master these tasks to support human expansion.”
Luckey has a habit of delivering prepared remarkets in unconventional ways. During a TED Talk earlier this year, he wore smart glasses by EvenRealities to display his notes as he advocated for autonomous killer military robots. The tech effectively skirted TED’s ban on teleprompter usage. He also famously targeted Jason Calacanis by name during a 2023 appearance at the All-In Summit, sharply criticizing the podcast host’s past commentary on him.
The second annual Reindustrialize summit, held in Detroit, is focused on modernizing and revitalizing the US’s industrial base, bringing together leaders from tech, manufacturing, government, and finance.