How Palantir became indispensable
The software firm has become the go-to-tool for governments worldwide
The Global Story · BBC World Service
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Show Notes
Palantir isn’t just another tech firm - it’s reach cuts across almost every aspect of modern life, from AI to healthcare to Formula 1 racing.
Founded in 2003 to support US counter-terrorism efforts, the company has since grown into a global powerhouse and is central to the Trump administration's policies, from its military to immigration enforcement.
At the centre of it all is billionaire co-founder Alex Karp – the philosopher turned tech-CEO who built the company from the ground up.
So how did this software company built for bad times become indispensable to governments across the globe, and what does its rise reveal about the future of politics?
We speak to journalist Michael Steinberger whose book The Philosopher in the Valley charts Karp’s life and Palantir’s rise.
Producer: Aron Keller
Mix: Travis Evans
Executive producer: China Collins
Senior news editor: China Collins
Photo: Palantir co-founder & CEO Alex Karp. Credit: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters.