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Palantir CEO on Iran, AI Weapons and American Domination | a16z American Dynamism Summit

This conversation with Alex Karp, cofounder and CEO of Palantir, was recorded at the a16z American Dynamism Summit in Washington, D.C. Karp discusses the role of technology in modern warfare, Silicon Valley's obligations to national defense, and why he believes America's single greatest competitive advantage is its ability to cultivate and protect unconventional talent. Timestamps: 00:00—Introduction 03:46—Support the Warfighter 05:58—Deterrence Through Tech 10:21—Silicon Valley Wake Up Call 12:57—AI Zero Sum Reality 15:59—Privacy and Political Backlash 18:46—How to Win the AI Race 25:46—Leading Neurodiverse Talent Stay Updated: If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends! Find a16z on X: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Listen to the a16z Show on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bC65RDvs3oxnLyqqvkUYX Listen to the a16z Show on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a16z-podcast/id842818711 Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see http://a16z.com/disclosures.

Alex KarpguestErik Torenberghost
Mar 12, 202632mWatch on YouTube ↗

Episode Details

EPISODE INFO

Released
March 12, 2026
Duration
32m
Channel
a16z
Watch on YouTube
▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

This conversation with Alex Karp, cofounder and CEO of Palantir, was recorded at the a16z American Dynamism Summit in Washington, D.C. Karp discusses the role of technology in modern warfare, Silicon Valley's obligations to national defense, and why he believes America's single greatest competitive advantage is its ability to cultivate and protect unconventional talent. Timestamps: 00:00—Introduction 03:46—Support the Warfighter 05:58—Deterrence Through Tech 10:21—Silicon Valley Wake Up Call 12:57—AI Zero Sum Reality 15:59—Privacy and Political Backlash 18:46—How to Win the AI Race 25:46—Leading Neurodiverse Talent Stay Updated: If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends! Find a16z on X: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Listen to the a16z Show on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bC65RDvs3oxnLyqqvkUYX Listen to the a16z Show on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a16z-podcast/id842818711 Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see http://a16z.com/disclosures.

SPEAKERS

  • Alex Karp

    guest

    CEO of Palantir Technologies, focused on defense, data platforms, and AI for government and enterprise.

  • Erik Torenberg

    host

    a16z host/moderator who interviews founders and leads conversations at American Dynamism events.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of a16z, featuring Alex Karp and Erik Torenberg, Palantir CEO on Iran, AI Weapons and American Domination | a16z American Dynamism Summit explores alex Karp argues AI-driven defense ensures American global dominance and freedom Karp frames recent Middle East escalation as evidence that U.S. deterrence has returned, attributing decisive advantage to military superiority powered by technology as much as courage and leadership.

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