Alex Karp Takes on the Battle

Alex Karp and I might appear quite different at first glance. I write for WIRED, focusing on in-depth reporting about Trumpworld; Karp serves as CEO of Palantir, a $450 billion corporation that engages with agencies like the CIA and ICE, and has collaborated with the Israeli military during its operations in Gaza. I reside in New York’s East Village, while Karp spends most of his time in a sprawling 500-acre estate in rural New Hampshire. (He was among the top-paid executives in the U.S. last year.) I come from a standard English major background, whereas he holds both a law degree and a PhD in philosophy, having studied under the esteemed Jürgen Habermas. I identify as a progressive; Karp dismisses such beliefs as “pagan religion.”

Despite our differences, we share a common bond: Both of us attended Central High School, a well-regarded magnet school in Philadelphia. (We weren’t there simultaneously; I have a few years on the 58-year-old executive.) Perhaps it was this connection that encouraged Karp to agree to an interview. As the child of a Jewish pediatrician and a Black artist who faced challenges with dyslexia, Karp found his footing at Central, reflecting on how overcoming that hurdle may have paved the way for his future accomplishments.

We held our interview during an annual conference for Palantir’s corporate clients. The atmosphere resembled that of a lively multilevel marketing event. The clients I spoke with—from major corporations like American Airlines to smaller family-run businesses—expressed that while Palantir’s AI-driven systems come with a high price tag, they are considered well worth the investment.

Not represented among the attendees were the clients responsible for most of Palantir’s revenue—the U.S. government and its allies. (The firm does not engage with Russia or China.) Palantir was established to bring Silicon Valley innovation into defense and governmental technology. Earlier this year, Karp, along with coauthor Nicholas Zamiska (a Palantir team member), articulated his philosophy in a book titled The Technological Republic, a surprisingly engaging critique that lambasts Silicon Valley for lacking patriotism. Karp argues that the antiestablishment ethos in Apple’s Macintosh marketing was the original sin of a tech culture that promotes indulgent individualism while neglecting nationalist priorities. At the conference, dressed casually in a white T-shirt and jeans, Karp began his keynote by stating, “We’ve been at odds with Silicon Valley on and off since we started 20 years ago.” In 2020, he relocated the company’s headquarters from Palo Alto to Denver, making it the wealthiest corporation in that state.

Some perceive Karp as a potential dystopian villain. He addresses his critics with aggression, stark clarity, and no regret. After years of collaborations, the company appears to have convinced the government that its tools can efficiently utilize information for military and intelligence purposes. Palantir holds a multimillion-dollar contract with ICE focused on “targeting and enforcement”—essentially aiding the agency in finding individuals for deportation. Karp takes pride in stating that the company’s products have supported lethal operations in Ukraine. Palantir has a Code of Conduct meant to commit the company to, among other principles, “protect privacy and civil liberties,” “protect the vulnerable,” “respect human dignity,” and “preserve and promote democracy.” In an open letter last May, 13 former employees accused Palantir’s leadership of straying from its foundational values and being complicit in “normalizing authoritarianism under the pretense of a ‘revolution’ led by oligarchs.” Karp has also disclosed that some employees have departed due to the company’s involvement with the Israeli military. His rebuttal: If you’re not facing opposition, you’re likely doing something incorrectly.

Beneath his passionate defense of Palantir, I sense a desire in Karp to be comprehended. He remarked that conversations with him often revolve solely around ICE, Israel, and Ukraine. I was keen to explore those topics as well, and we did. However, our discussion also ventured into areas such as Donald Trump, democracy, and his admiration for German culture. And, of course, Central High.