Palmer Luckey Asks: Would You Pay 20% More for a 'Made in America' Computer?

Palmer Luckey's Vision for an American-Made Computer

Palmer Luckey, the former founder of Oculus VR and co-founder of defense technology company Anduril Industries, recently posed a thought-provoking question to the public: Would you be willing to purchase a computer made in the United States for 20% more than a comparable Apple machine?

Luckey shared this hypothetical scenario on X, seeking input from the community. As of now, the poll shows that 63.5% of respondents would consider buying such a product, while 36.5% would not. Nearly 80,000 people have already cast their votes, indicating significant interest in his idea.

This isn’t the first time Luckey has explored the concept of an American-made computer. Earlier this month, he mentioned it at the Reindustrialize summit, responding to the question of who would bring back American manufacturing of computers. He said:

“This is one of those things where I started talking to companies years ago about this… I think there’s a chance that it’s going to be Anduril, unless someone else does it first, which I’d be perfectly happy with.”

The next logical question is, how would Anduril actually make such a computer? According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a product labeled as “Made in USA” must be “all or virtually all” made in the U.S. This means the final assembly and processing must occur domestically, along with the majority of ingredients and components. In practice, this is challenging given that most computer components are currently manufactured outside the U.S., often at a lower cost.

PCMag attempted to track U.S.-based companies producing high-quality tech products in 2023. They found that while some computers and components are assembled in the U.S., they are typically not fully manufactured there. Most parts are sourced internationally, making the idea of a truly American-made computer both ambitious and complex.

Despite these challenges, Luckey has a history of turning ideas into reality. He began designing his own VR headsets at just 16 years old. His work eventually led to the co-founding of Oculus VR, which he sold to Facebook (now Meta) for $3 billion. He left the company in 2017 before founding Anduril Industries, a defense technology firm that has since provided the U.S. Border Patrol with over 300 autonomous surveillance towers.

Anduril has also taken over Microsoft’s previous role of supplying augmented reality headsets to the U.S. Army, securing several military-related government contracts. Last year, the company announced a partnership with Palantir Technologies to ensure the U.S. government leads in artificial intelligence development.

Luckey is also known for his creative and sometimes controversial projects. One of his earlier ventures was the NerveGear, a VR headset designed as an art project that supposedly used three explosive charges to kill the user if they died in a game. Fortunately, he never completed the project, leaving it as "office art."

While the idea of an American-made computer might seem like a step in the right direction, it will require more than just a poll to succeed. It will need real investment, innovation, and consumer support. Luckey’s latest initiative seems like a promising use of his talents, but its success will depend heavily on public interest.

If you're curious about whether you'd buy a computer made in the U.S. for 20% more than a foreign alternative, you can still participate in the poll. The question remains: Do you believe in Luckey’s vision, or do you think it’s just another bold idea that may not take off?