Shawn Ryan Show Episode #151: Joe Lonsdale - The AI-Driven EMP Weapon Built to Destroy New Jersey Drone Swarms

Release Date: December 18, 2024

Introduction

In this compelling episode of the Shawn Ryan Show, host Shawn Ryan engages in an in-depth conversation with Joe Lonsdale, a renowned Silicon Valley entrepreneur and co-founder of influential companies such as Palantir Technologies, Addepar, and Epirus. The discussion spans Joe’s extensive career in technology and defense, his perspectives on modern warfare, energy solutions, education reform, and his efforts to combat societal "wokeness."

Unidentified Drone Activity in New Jersey

[04:13] Shawn Ryan opens the conversation by addressing recent mysterious drone activities in New Jersey, prompting Joe Lonsdale to share his insights.

Joe Lonsdale: "Drone warfare is becoming obviously very prevalent. This is the future of warfare as far as I'm concerned." [06:23]

Joe expresses concern over the increasing use of drones in modern warfare, highlighting the inefficiency of traditional missile-based defenses against low-cost drone swarms. He emphasizes the necessity for innovative solutions like directed energy weapons to counteract these threats effectively.

Epirus and AI-Driven EMP Weapons

[07:10] The discussion shifts to Epirus, a company Joe co-founded that specializes in directed energy weapons designed to combat drone swarms.

Joe Lonsdale: "Epirus is a really important company and I'm proud to be a co-founder there." [07:10]

Joe elaborates on how advancements in AI and powerful silicon chips have enabled Epirus to develop EMP weapons capable of disabling multiple drones simultaneously and at greater distances than traditional methods.

Notable Quote:

"The future of warfare is like lots and lots of manufactured, smart, weaponized autonomous drones."
— Joe Lonsdale, [06:23]

Founding Palantir Technologies

[28:16] Joe delves into his journey of founding Palantir Technologies, detailing the company's mission to integrate and analyze vast amounts of data for government and business applications.

Joe Lonsdale: "Palantir is an effort to take the very top technology culture in Silicon Valley and apply it to solve the most important problems in institutions that didn't have tech cultures." [28:18]

He describes the initial challenges, including resistance from government bodies and competitors, and how Palantir's innovative data integration and AI applications revolutionized intelligence and defense operations.

Addepar: Revolutionizing Wealth Management

[38:14] Transitioning from defense to finance, Joe discusses the creation of Addepar, a platform designed to bring transparency and data-driven decision-making to wealth management.

Joe Lonsdale: "Addepar is now by far number one in the country. We just crossed $7 trillion reported over Addepar." [40:03]

He explains how Addepar addresses the complexities of financial data integration, enabling investment advisors and family offices to manage and report wealth more efficiently.

Energy Solutions: Nuclear and Fusion

[40:18] The conversation shifts to energy, where Joe outlines the critical need for scalable and reliable energy sources to power advancements in technology and AI.

Joe Lonsdale: "AI takes a tremendous amount of energy, and we need to ramp up nuclear energy alongside solar to meet future demands." [40:07]

He advocates for modernizing the energy grid, increasing nuclear energy production, and investing in fusion research as essential steps toward sustainable and affordable energy.

Notable Quote:

"If you make energy cheaper, you make everything cheaper and it means all of us can afford more stuff."
— Joe Lonsdale, [43:48]

University of Austin and Education Reform

[89:17] Joe introduces the University of Austin, an institution he co-founded aimed at revitalizing education by focusing on classical virtues, Judeo-Christian values, and the scientific Enlightenment.

Joe Lonsdale: "We need to teach the three great traditions: classical virtues, Judeo-Christian wisdom, and the scientific Enlightenment." [89:32]

He emphasizes the importance of fostering an environment that encourages critical thinking, truth-seeking, and balanced understanding of historical and contemporary issues.

Cicero Institute and Policy Advocacy

[95:11] The Cicero Institute, another initiative by Joe, focuses on policy reform at the state level, addressing issues like vocational education and homelessness through data-driven legislation.

Joe Lonsdale: "We fund vocational schools based on the average salary of graduates, incentivizing schools to improve outcomes." [97:08]

He explains how the Cicero Institute collaborates with state governments to draft and implement laws that promote efficiency, accountability, and better societal outcomes.

Combatting "Wokeness" and Societal Division

[83:01] A significant portion of the dialogue centers on Joe’s efforts to counteract societal "wokeness" and ideological extremism, particularly within educational institutions and non-profits.

Joe Lonsdale: "Woke stuff is about conquering things for the far left and demonizing anyone who stands in their way." [84:27]

He advocates for fostering environments where diverse viewpoints are respected and encourages the creation of new media outlets and educational institutions that prioritize truth and common sense over ideological conformity.

Future of Warfare and Space Defense

[75:43] Joe shares his concerns about the militarization of space and the potential for space-based weapons to disrupt global security.

Joe Lonsdale: "There's a natural network effect in space where it's very cheap to deploy weaponized assets. Whoever controls space first has a significant advantage." [76:26]

He stresses the urgency of developing defense mechanisms to protect space infrastructure and prevent adversaries from gaining uncontested control over space-based systems.

Personal Insights and Leadership Philosophy

Throughout the episode, Joe offers valuable lessons on building successful companies, emphasizing the importance of a strong technology culture, hiring top talent, and maintaining clear company values.

Joe Lonsdale: "To build really top companies, you need a really great technology culture." [32:51]

He also discusses the challenges of managing multiple ventures, the significance of delegating responsibilities, and the necessity of surrounding oneself with competent leaders.

Conclusion

The episode provides a comprehensive look into Joe Lonsdale’s multifaceted career and his visionary approach to technology, defense, energy, education, and societal reform. His insights shed light on the evolving landscape of modern warfare, the critical need for innovation in energy infrastructure, and the importance of fostering environments that value truth, accountability, and diverse perspectives.

Final Notable Quote:

"We're going towards a really positive direction for our society if we can keep things functional."
— Joe Lonsdale, [110:30]

Key Takeaways

• AI and Drone Warfare: The rise of autonomous drones necessitates advanced defense systems like AI-driven EMP weapons to ensure national security.

• Innovation in Energy: Scaling nuclear and fusion energy sources is crucial to support the growing energy demands of AI and other technologies.

• Education and Policy Reform: Initiatives like the University of Austin and Cicero Institute aim to rejuvenate education and policy-making through classical values and data-driven legislation.

• Combating Societal Division: Efforts to counteract ideological extremism involve creating platforms and institutions that promote diverse viewpoints and critical thinking.

• Future Defense Strategies: Emphasizing the importance of space defense and advanced manufacturing to maintain global security and technological superiority.

Relevant Quotes with Timestamps

• On Drone Warfare:

  "Drone warfare is becoming obviously very prevalent. This is the future of warfare as far as I'm concerned."
  — Joe Lonsdale, [06:23]

• On Energy Cost Reduction:

  "If you make energy cheaper, you make everything cheaper and it means all of us can afford more stuff."
  — Joe Lonsdale, [43:48]

• On Technological Culture in Companies:

  "To build really top companies, you need a really great technology culture."
  — Joe Lonsdale, [32:51]

• On Society’s Direction:

  "We're going towards a really positive direction for our society if we can keep things functional."
  — Joe Lonsdale, [110:30]

This episode serves as an insightful exploration of how technological innovation intersects with national security, energy sustainability, education reform, and societal values. Joe Lonsdale’s experiences and perspectives offer valuable lessons for entrepreneurs, policymakers, and anyone interested in the future trajectory of our civilization.