Alex Karp

Timeline

1. 1985–2002

   Philosophy, law, and social theory

   He graduates from Central High School in Philadelphia in 1985, earns a philosophy BA at Haverford in 1989 and a JD at Stanford in 1992, then completes a social theory doctorate at Goethe University in 2002.

2. Before 2003

   Research at the Freud Institute

   Before Palantir's founding in 2003, he works as a research associate at Frankfurt's Sigmund Freud Institute and starts the London-based investment firm Caedmon Group.

3. 2003

   Co-founding and leading Palantir

   He co-founds Palantir with Peter Thiel and three others in 2003. Thiel leaves much of the company's operations in his hands.

4. May 2023

   Focusing Palantir on AI

   In May 2023, he tells analysts Palantir has refocused engineering and other resources around AI to meet demand. Its Artificial Intelligence Platform is designed for military intelligence and civilian business uses.

5. February 2025

   The Technological Republic

   In February 2025, he co-authors The Technological Republic with Nicholas W. Zamiska. The book calls on the software industry to address urgent challenges such as the artificial intelligence arms race.

6. 2025

   Time's 100 influential people

   He appears on Time's list of 100 Most Influential People in 2025.

7. November 2025

   Palantir's AI and Maven

   In November 2025, he describes Palantir's products as tools for orchestrating information with AI. He says the company powers Maven, the U.S. government's AI battlefield plan, and argues that large language models should create measurable value for workers.

8. As of October 2026

   Palantir's co-founder and CEO

   As of October 2026, he is Palantir's co-founder and CEO. He says AI sovereignty protects the distinct insights and data sets that give each enterprise its value.