Can consumer tech like Facebook and Oculus really help win wars?

As governments get serious about AI and startups, Silicon Valley is being dragged—sometimes unwillingly—into the global military and geopolitical game.

In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein unpack how Meta is teaming up with Anduril—the military tech startup founded by Oculus’ Palmer Luckey—to bring XR (Extended Reality) to the battlefield. They also break down how Google might preemptively split itself, how UK civil servants gained 5% productivity with AI tools, and why Europe’s startup scene may finally be waking up.

In this episode, you will:

Learn how Meta’s AR & VR technology is being integrated into U.S. military operations
Understand the strategic irony behind Palmer Luckey and Meta partnering again
Explore the concept of “reverse technology transfer” from consumer tech to defense
Discover why Google may break itself up before regulators force it
See how the UK’s use of Microsoft Copilot gave government workers a 5% productivity boost
Unpack the EU’s new law that lets startups register and begin trading in under 48 hours
Assess how New York is quietly becoming Silicon Valley’s biggest challenger

Whether you're a founder, operator, or just a curious mind in the startup world, this episode gives you sharp insights into how tech, defense, and regulation are reshaping the startup landscape.

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Key links

Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A

The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/

Learn more about Chris and Yaniv

Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/

Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/

Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur

Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

Insiders React: Meta's Luckey Military Deal + Google's Plan to Split Itself, Europe Revives AI & Startups

The Startup Podcast