Chief technology officer of Meta Platforms Inc Andrew Bosworth indicated that attitudes in Silicon Valley toward collaboration with the US military are changing.

At the Bloomberg Tech Summit in San Francisco, Bosworth noted that a “silent majority” within the tech industry has historically supported defense initiatives.

He referenced Silicon Valley’s origins in military development. He observed a growing willingness to re-engage in such collaborations.

Last week, Meta announced a partnership with defense contractor Anduril Industries Inc. to develop products for the US military.

This collaboration includes an AI-powered helmet that uses augmented and virtual reality technology.

.source-ref{font-size:0.85em;color:#666;display:block;margin-top:1em;}a.ask-tia-citation-link:hover{color:#11628d !important;background:#e9f6f5 !important;border-color:#11628d !important;text-decoration:none !important;}@media only screen and (min-width:768px){a.ask-tia-citation-link{font-size:11px !important;}}

🔗 Source: Bloomberg

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Silicon Valley’s return to military roots is historically consistent

Bosworth’s characterization of a “return to grace” is historically accurate, as Silicon Valley was built on military contracts and research.

Stanford University’s Applied Electronics Lab, established during the Cold War, developed crucial military technologies including electronic intelligence systems and jammers that powered America’s defense capabilities in the 1950s and 1960s1.

This military foundation was economically transformative. For instance, Lockheed’s Missiles Division in Sunnyvale grew from zero employees in 1956 to 28,000 by 1965, fundamentally reshaping the region’s economy around defense technology2.

The military’s role as a venture capitalist was essential to Silicon Valley’s formation. Government funding developed foundational technologies including microchips, the internet, and GPS through agencies like DARPA3.

Historian Leslie Berlin notes that “all modern high tech has the US Department of Defense to thank at its core,” highlighting how the current trend represents Silicon Valley reconnecting with its historical origins rather than charting new territory4.

2️⃣ Tech-military collaboration follows cyclical patterns tied to geopolitical realities

The shifting attitudes Bosworth describes follow a documented pattern that mirrors broader geopolitical circumstances and economic interests.

Just six years ago, Google faced intense internal backlash over Project Maven, with 4,000 employees signing an open letter demanding withdrawal from the Pentagon AI initiative—a stark contrast to Meta’s new embrace of military partnerships4.

The cycle is evident in company positioning as well. For example, Microsoft President Brad Smith explicitly supported defense contracts, stating, “we want the people who serve this country to know Microsoft has their backs,” while Google temporarily retreated from military work4.

This return to military collaboration comes amid heightened global tensions and unprecedented defense spending. Global military expenditures reached $2.4 trillion in 2023, increasing 6.8% in a single year5.

The economic incentives are substantial. Defense startups like Anduril have secured contracts worth $30 million per autonomous fighter jet, while established players like Raytheon hold deals worth billions, illustrating the financial attraction driving renewed tech-military engagement6.

3️⃣ The evolving defense market creates space for tech giants alongside traditional contractors

Meta’s partnership with defense contractor Anduril reflects a significant shift in how advanced technology reaches military applications—through collaboration between tech platforms and specialized defense partners.

Traditional defense contractors dominate the sector by revenue. Lockheed Martin leads with $64.7 billion in defense revenue, followed by RTX at $40.6 billion and Northrop Grumman at $35.2 billion, but they face increasing competition from tech-oriented startups7.

A new generation of defense startups is demonstrating remarkable growth. Shield AI reached a $2.7 billion valuation focusing on AI-powered drones, while Palantir secured a $480 million contract for military data analysis, showing how specialized tech companies are gaining significant military market share6.

The integration of advanced technologies like AI and quantum computing is transforming military capabilities, creating entry points for companies with specialized expertise in these domains rather than traditional defense manufacturing8.

Meta’s approach with Anduril parallels broader industry trends where partnerships combine Silicon Valley’s software innovation with defense-specific expertise to develop products like AI-powered military helmets with AR/VR capabilities.

……