Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) CEO Alex Karp said Silicon Valley "would not even exist" without support from the U.S. military, arguing that the technology hub grew from cooperation among government, universities, and private capital.
Karp Points To Silicon Valley’s Military Roots
Karp made the remarks during a Nov. 10 interview with Walter Isaacson on The Builders, while discussing whether more American technology companies should support U.S. military and national-security priorities.
Asked about technology companies that have resisted working with the military, Karp described Silicon Valley as a "highly insulated island" and said the U.S. military remains an institution viewed positively by a broad share of Americans.
"The valley was built as a hybrid," Karp said, describing a model combining universities, government agencies, and capital. He specifically pointed to Stanford and the development of the venture-capital model as parts of that system.
Karp said Palantir and companies founded by former Palantir employees have helped make government and defense technology more attractive within Silicon Valley.
Palantir’s Defense Role
Earlier in the interview, Karp said Palantir’s original anti-terror software required the company to reject conventional software-development practices.
He said Palantir spent roughly three years developing the product without revenue and argued that the system was designed both to stop terrorist attacks and protect civil liberties.
Karp also said Palantir’s technology later became "fundamental to the defense of Ukraine."
Discussing military applications of artificial intelligence (AI), Karp separately said the U.S. needs battlefield AI because adversaries are developing similar technologies. He also argued that such technology should be restricted from domestic use through legislation.
How Has PLTR Performed in 2026?
PLTR stock was lower by 9.72% over the last year, down 3.01% year-to-date, and lower by 17.53% over the last month. It closed 2.12% higher at $172.40 per share on Wednesday; the stock was down 1.39% in premarket trading on Thursday.
Benzinga’s Edge Stock Rankings indicate that PLTR maintains a negative price trend in the short term but a positive trend in the long and medium terms, with a good growth score.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Shutterstock
© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
