On June 1, 2022, Alex Karp, the CEO of Palantir Technologies, crossed the border between Poland and Ukraine with five colleagues. They were driven by armed guards in beaten-up Toyota Land Cruisers and arrived in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, before the wartime curfew. Karp became the first leader of a major Western company to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky since Russia’s invasion three months earlier. During their meeting, Karp expressed his readiness to open an office in Kyiv and use Palantir’s data and artificial intelligence software to support Ukraine’s defense. He believed they could work together to defeat the “Goliath” of Russia.
Alex Karp is an unusual figure among top tech CEOs. At 56, he is a lanky tai chi enthusiast with a cloud of wiry gray curls, giving him the air of an eccentric scientist. He holds a Ph.D. in philosophy and a law degree from Stanford. After Palantir became a secretive unicorn in the tech industry, Karp moved the company to Denver to escape Silicon Valley’s “monoculture.” He typically works out of a barn in New Hampshire when he’s not traveling.
The Ukrainians were unsure about Karp’s grandiose promises, but they were familiar with Palantir’s reputation. Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation, who was present at the meeting, recalls that the company’s name is derived from the mystical seeing stones in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings.” Despite their skepticism, the Ukrainians were willing to explore the possibility of partnering with Palantir, as they recognized the potential value of leveraging data and AI in their defense efforts.
Karp’s visit to Ukraine highlights his commitment to using technology to address global challenges, particularly in the realm of national security. By offering Palantir’s expertise to Ukraine, he aims to assist the country in defending itself against the Russian invasion. As tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to escalate, Karp’s willingness to take risks and venture into a war-torn region demonstrates his dedication to making a difference and positioning Palantir as a key player in the defense industry.
