Podcast Notes Playlist: Business #190 Shyam Sankar - Chief Technology Officer of Palantir: The Future of Warfare
Apr 13, 2025
Shyam Sankar, Chief Technology Officer at Palantir Technologies, shares insights from his journey in revolutionizing military technology. He discusses the importance of reevaluating the software-industrial complex and how data is more than just the 'new oil.' The conversation dives into the transformative potential of quantum computing and AI in national security. Shyam critiques traditional military acquisition processes, emphasizing a need for pragmatism. He also addresses the pressing challenges of border security and the role of tech in combating drug trafficking.
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From Nigeria to America Journey
- Shyam Sankar's father was a pharmacist who built Africa's first pharmaceutical factory in Nigeria.
- Their family fled after a violent armed robbery, leaving all possessions behind and relocating to the U.S.
Data Is Not New Oil
- Data itself isn't inherently valuable, only its ability to inform decisions matters.
- Palantir focuses on integrating data to give decision advantage, not just collecting more data.
Palantir's Grassroots Breakthrough
- Early Palantir engineers carried their own projectors to government meetings to demo software.
- A CIA analyst's grassroots effort helped Palantir secure its first major pilot amid initial resistance.