Critics of those who misuse power tend to be outsiders. So, it’s striking that Alexander Karp, co-founder and CEO of data analytics giant Palantir Technologies, has written a book, with Palantir’s head of corporate affairs Nicholas Zamiska, calling on Silicon Valley to find its moral compass.
Together, they upbraid fellow big tech companies for “building [things] simply because they can, untethered from a more fundamental purpose”. They argue far too much creative brilliance in the private sector is wasted on producing endless consumer products, such as dating apps and online sales platforms, and on reducing the “inconveniences of daily life for those with disposable income”.
Instead, they believe “the software industry should rebuild its relationship with government and redirect its effort and attention to constructing the technology and artificial intelligence capabilities that will address the most pressing challenges that we collectively face”.
