Intelligence Squared — Is Alex Karp the Philosopher of Silicon Valley?

Guest: Michael Steinberger (author, journalist, New York Times Magazine)
Host: Carl Miller
Date: December 8, 2025
Episode Theme:
An explorative conversation about Alex Karp, the enigmatic CEO of Palantir, tracing his personal evolution from left-wing activist to key figure in the tech-industrial complex; examining Palantir’s rise, its controversial place in modern surveillance, and Karp’s philosophical stamp on Silicon Valley and Western values.

Main Themes of the Episode

• The singular, often contradictory, background and worldview of Alex Karp.
• How Palantir, under Karp, influenced global security, the pandemic response, and the modern surveillance state.
• The complex dynamic between Karp and co-founder Peter Thiel.
• The intertwining of technology, ideology, and geopolitics in Palantir’s mission.
• The impact of Karp’s philosophy on Western politics, especially amid contemporary U.S. political developments.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origins: Who is Alex Karp?

• Early Life and Activism [04:29–06:51]
  • Birth and upbringing: Biracial, Jewish, raised in a "very left wing household" in Philadelphia.
  • Education: Haverford College, highly active in progressive causes and anti-racism work.
  • Karp’s student activism notably criticized college administration and Ronald Reagan for fostering racism.
  • Wore a keffiyeh in his college yearbook photo, symbolizing broad social justice commitments.
  • “No one... would have thought at Haverford that he would end up running a company that's at the nexus of technology in the national security state, a very unlikely path..." — Michael Steinberger [06:45]
• Alumni Estrangement [06:51–09:13]
  • Despite his success, Karp is snubbed by Haverford: no fundraising, no invitations to speak.
  • This exclusion deeply irks him and becomes a "through line" in his story.
  • Karp critiqued Haverford's handling of campus protests on Gaza; declared, “I will never give the school a dime.” [08:52]

2. The Founding of Palantir & Peter Thiel's Role

• Genesis of Palantir [09:38–12:49]

  • Originated from PayPal’s need for anti-fraud technology—pattern recognition to fight loss due to fraud.
  • After PayPal’s sale, Thiel saw parallels between fighting fraud and counter-terrorism post-9/11: both were 'connect the dots' problems.
  • Thus, Palantir was founded to be a tool for data integration, the same way PayPal’s systems connected the dots.

• Karp and Thiel: An Unlikely Dynamic Duo [12:49–16:06]

  • Met at Stanford Law; bonded over dissatisfaction with law and fierce political debates.
  • Karp, then living in Germany, was recruited by Thiel for his salesmanship and alignment to mission, despite unconventional background.
  • Thiel: “They would debate like, quote, unquote, feral animals.” — Reflecting the intensity of their connection [14:27]
  • Karp unexpectedly installed as CEO for his ability to "get people to write big checks... a very convincing salesperson." [15:04]

3. Karp’s Ideological Position and Outsider Status in Silicon Valley

• Philosophy and Mission [16:06–19:10]

  • Karp embraced Palantir’s mission "to defend the West," blending personal vulnerability into a larger cause.
  • From the start, Palantir was rejected by Silicon Valley's major venture capitalists, fueling a sense of being outsiders.
  • “The very ice cold reception that Carp had received from... the Silicon Valley venture capital community kind of gave and gave him and his colleagues a kind of animus towards Silicon Valley that has endured to this day.” [17:54]
  • Palantir even got early support from the CIA’s In Q Tel after VCs refused to back it.

• Worldview [19:10–21:06]

  • Karp sees Palantir as a "sword and a shield for the West," with its purpose intimately tied to defending liberal democracy—and himself—as a minority.
  • “It's not an exaggeration to say that in some sense, Palantir exists to make the world safer for Alex Karp.” — Michael Steinberger [20:31]

4. What Does Palantir Actually Do?

• Demystifying the Tech [21:24–25:37]
  • Palantir provides "enterprise scale data fusion," i.e., advanced data analytics, not data collection or sales.
  • Its true innovation: merging siloed, messy datasets from large organizations into coherent, actionable insights—the "plumbing" for big data.
  • “It builds software platforms that enable organizations to make better, faster use of their own data... They’re building technology that enables organizations to make better use of their own data.” — Michael Steinberger [21:58]

5. High-Profile Applications and Controversies

• Speculation on Osama bin Laden Raid [26:18–28:36]

  • Palantir rumored, never confirmed, to have aided in the raid—a “money in the bank” for its mystique.
  • Karp himself "has come to believe it was actually true, but couldn’t offer more detail than that” [27:17]

• COVID-19 Pandemic “Proof of Concept” [28:56–31:50]

  • Palantir was highly effective in integrating pandemic data for U.S., UK governments, and the World Food Program—instrumental in PPE/vaccine logistics, as confirmed by Nobel Peace Prize recognition.
  • “Palantir technology proved invaluable in giving the government some means of getting a handle on the spread of the virus.” [29:32]

• Controversy and coverage [32:13–34:15]

  • Palantir’s name synonymous with “surveillance,” yet most of its work is benign, ordinary enterprise applications.
  • Steinberger: “Any fair account of what it does would have to recognize that there is stuff that should make us nervous, but also recognize there's stuff... actually laudable...” [34:15]

6. Palantir and Modern Geopolitics

• War in Ukraine—Vindication and Utility [34:40–37:56]
  • Karp’s anti-Russia stance and Palantir’s role in Ukraine have vindicated both his worldview and strategic decisions.
  • Palantir’s AI platform was crucial for battlefield targeting and intelligence (via Project Maven) after Google dropped out.
  • “Palantir’s technology, it would appear, played a very important role [in Ukraine’s resistance].” [37:38]

7. Karp’s Political Evolution and Palantir’s Position in Trump’s America

• Thiel and Karp diverge, then converge [38:34–41:01]
  • Thiel, initially a libertarian, becomes “an enthusiastic fascist” per a former Palantir employee.
  • Karp was critical of Trump during 2016–2020 but changed after October 7th (Israel/Palestine crisis), disaffection with the Democrats, and business pragmatism.
  • “Karp is on board with Trump this time... He's actually found some policy reasons, some, quote unquote, intellectual reasons to get on board...” [41:01–44:32]
  • Karp stops speaking of “liberal democracy,” focusing instead on “the west as a cultural entity,” an ideological shift reflecting new political realities.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Karp’s Contradictions:
  • “Of all the many biographies I've read, he has to be one of the most chameleon-esque subjects...” — Carl Miller [04:12]
• On Silicon Valley’s Cold Shoulder:
  • “They saw themselves as standing apart from the rest of the valley and didn't feel particularly welcome...” — Steinberger [18:14]
• On Palantir’s “High-End Plumbing”:
  • “It's not glamorous work. Even though the company has a certain glamour, which owes much to Carp, owes much to its client base...” — Steinberger [21:59]
• On Palantir’s Role in Bin Laden’s Killing:
  • “Regardless, that paragraph in that book was just money in the bank for Palantir, because... it gave Palantir a mystique that endures to this day. It's the company that helped get bin Laden.” — Steinberger [28:07]
• On Karp’s Dark Philosophy:
  • “We have enemies who want to kill us. We should kill them before they kill us. That's kind of how he sees the world.” — Steinberger [45:41]
• Karpisms: [44:32–50:12]
  1. “Bad times are good for Palantir.”
     • “It’s a company with a very dark worldview... bad times seem to be good for Palantir.” — Steinberger [45:12]
  2. “We're an enterprise company... Do you think it is helpful having a fluorescent praying mantis coming into their office telling them about German philosophy? It is not helpful.”
     • Steinberger clarifies Karp was referring to himself, expressing doubt about his suitability as Palantir’s public face. [47:15]
  3. “The thing about being viewed as bonkers is that people don't want to compete with you.”
     • “He sort of likes being perceived as this mad genius... part of his self mythologizing.” — Steinberger [48:54]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Karp’s Childhood & Haverford: 04:29–09:13
• Founding of Palantir & PayPal Links: 09:38–12:49
• Thiel/Karp Relationship: 12:49–16:06
• Silicon Valley Outcast Status: 16:39–19:10
• Palantir’s Mission and Karp’s Worldview: 19:10–21:06
• What Palantir Does (Product Details): 21:24–25:37
• Bin Laden Raid, Company Reputation: 26:18–28:36
• COVID-19 Use Case: 28:56–31:50
• Palantir as Surveillance Symbol: 32:13–34:15
• Ukraine & Project Maven: 34:40–37:56
• Political Evolution (Thiel, Karp, Trump): 38:34–44:32
• Karpisms (Quotes & Reflections): 44:32–50:12

Conclusion

This episode paints Alex Karp as a paradox: an anti-establishment progressive who became a kingpin of the tech-military complex; a self-described “fluorescent praying mantis” who both shapes and critiques Silicon Valley’s ethos. Michael Steinberger provides rare, nuanced insights into how Karp’s formative experiences, philosophical leanings, and strategic pivots have shaped Palantir’s trajectory—at once lauded for enabling humanitarian missions and feared for ushering in a high-tech surveillance era. Karp’s “bad times are good for Palantir” maxim lingers as a chilling summation of both his company’s fortune and the times we inhabit.

For anyone interested in the collision of personal philosophy, technological power, and contemporary geopolitics, this episode offers a rich, thought-provoking examination of Silicon Valley’s most enigmatic executive and his controversial empire.