Palantir Technologies has released a 22-point manifesto outlining a controversial vision for American defense, national security, and the role of the tech industry in geopolitics.
The document, shared via the company's X account, is based on the book 'The Technological Republic: Hard Power, Soft Belief, and the Future of the West' by CEO Alex Karp and head of corporate affairs Nicholas Zamiska, according to Fortune.
A central theme of the manifesto is that Silicon Valley holds a 'moral debt' to the United States. The authors argue that the American software industry grew from government-private sector partnerships that funded essential research in rockets and satellites.
Fortune reports that the manifesto accuses the 'engineering elite' of neglecting their duty to national defense. The authors suggest tech companies have focused on building 'obsession-driven apps' rather than contributing to the defense industry necessary to maintain U.S. geopolitical advantages.
'Why take the chance of entering into the moral morass of geopolitics and courting controversy when you can build another app?' the book asks.
AI-driven deterrence
The manifesto advocates for a shift in military strategy, suggesting the U.S. should move away from an all-volunteer force and consider reinstating the military draft. The authors argue that without conscription, a generation of political elites has 'essentially enlisted others to fight their wars abroad.'
Looking toward the future of warfare, Karp and Zamiska claim the atomic age is ending and the next era of deterrence will rely on artificial intelligence. They argue that American companies must build AI weapons and resist pressure from protesters.
This stance directly addresses past employee resistance at major tech firms. Fortune notes that Google declined to renew its Project Maven AI military contract in 2018 following employee protests, whereas Palantir chose to accept such work.
The document also critiques international policies, claiming the postwar disarmament of Germany and Japan's commitment to pacifism have weakened global stability. The authors specifically suggest that Germany's disarmament contributed to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Perhaps most provocatively, the manifesto claims certain cultures have proven to be 'middling, and worse, regressive and harmful.' The authors call for a renewal of shared American culture to ensure national survival.
'The old means of manufacturing a nation, the civic rituals of an educational system, mandatory service in national defense, religion, a shared language, and a thriving and free press have all but been dismantled or withered from neglect and abuse,' the authors wrote.
