Alex Karp, CEO of Palantir, recently appeared on The Axios Show, where he spoke with host Mike Allen. When Allen asked him what Palantir actually does, Karp replied that his company helps grow the gross domestic product (GDP) of the United States. Specifically, he said: "We increase U.S. GDP. We are the part of GDP... in the artificial intelligence (AI) economy where things are useful." That sounds simple, although Karp repeats it often. On CNBC's Squawk Box, he talked about how most of the country's GDP growth comes from AI. He was responding to investor Michael Burry, who bet against Palantir by shorting its stock. Karp suggested that investors should bet on his company instead because it is "one of the largest businesses in the world" and fulfills a "noble mission."
Palantir is a software company focused on AI and data, and Karp describes it as "the most interesting company on the planet," with a "baller product" and a "baller culture." Baller is slang for something great or successful. Karp believes his company is crucial to preserving American exceptionalism. In a letter to investors following the release of third-quarter results, he quoted William Butler Yeats's poem "The Second Coming," which says: "Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold." Karp adapted it to: "Today, America is the center, and it must hold." He added that it is a mistake to claim that all cultures and their values are equal.
What Does Karp Say Are the Risks of AI?
Karp is not afraid to talk about what could go wrong with AI. In his interview with Allen, he said that AI could fail on many fronts, but the U.S. must take significant risks because things will either go well or badly for America or China. In his view, no option is risk-free, which is why it is necessary to bet everything on AI. "We are not doing this in a vacuum. Either we or China will be the dominant player, and the rules will be very different depending on who wins," he explained.
When asked about AI's impact on people, Karp emphasized that concerns about surveillance are justified, but if America does not lead, people will have far fewer rights. "Of course, there are enormous dangers, but you will have far fewer rights if America is not leading," he said. His view is clear: an American surveillance state is better than Chinese dominance in AI. Karp thinks that most people fear surveillance because of personal matters, such as flirting. He gave an example: "Is this product being used to take away my right to go have a hot dog with a female colleague I'm flirting with while I'm married? Which, frankly, I consider a God-given right of people in this country." He repeated this later, saying that most surveillance technologies do not care whether "I'm fucking too many people on the side and lying to my partner."
What Does He Say About Social Risks and the Future?
Karp sees social instability as the main risk of AI. When pressed to describe it in more detail, he spoke about "some pretty crazy populist movements that obviously make no sense, such as the government running grocery stores." According to him, there are two paths: one in which AI becomes part of every aspect of life, limits education and employment opportunities, and all-seeing surveillance is accepted in exchange for "safety" from an invisible enemy. The other path could involve government solutions to affordability problems, such as opening stores in areas with food shortages and selling goods at wholesale prices. Karp chose the first path, which brings him profit.
This perspective emerges from his appearances on shows and his letter to investors. Karp is also the subject of Michael Steinberger's book "The Philosopher in the Valley." He speaks quickly and at length, as if there were wheels in his head spinning faster than his mouth.
So What Should We Take Away From This?
For a layperson, this means that people like Karp see AI as a race between the U.S. and China, with privacy and rights at stake. Karp does not want China to win, even if that means greater surveillance in America. His examples involving a hot dog and flirting make the subject more accessible, but they show that he focuses on personal freedoms rather than major issues such as the economy or jobs.
Source: gizmodo.com
