Palantir CTO talks new contract with the U.S. Army to build AI enabled vehicle

CNBC Television
6 Mar 202404:56

TLDRPalantir Technologies has secured a significant $178 million contract to develop an AI-enabled vehicle, marking a milestone as a software company becoming a prime contractor for a major hardware program. This reflects the growing role of software and AI in military applications. Palantir's CTO, Shyam Sankar, discusses the implications for defense technology and the company's growth, highlighting the rapid transformation of business capabilities through AI. The government remains Palantir's largest revenue source, but its U.S. commercial business is surging, with a 70% growth in Q4. The company is set to showcase its AI platform at AIPCON, where customers will demonstrate their use cases and the latest platform capabilities.

Takeaways

  • 🚀 Palantir has won a high-profile contract worth $178 million to build an AI-enabled vehicle, marking a significant milestone for the company.
  • 🌟 This contract signifies the first time a software company has become the prime contractor for a major hardware program, highlighting the growing role of software and AI in military applications.
  • 📈 Palantir's shares ended the day up about 10%, reflecting the positive market reaction to the news.
  • 🤖 The AI-defined vehicle is designed to provide long-range, precision fires and is built around the soldier's workflows, showcasing how AI is transforming warfare.
  • 🛠️ Palantir's role in this contract is akin to a lead contractor, with the entire vehicle's capabilities derived and designed around their software.
  • 💡 The vehicle integrates with space-based sensors and torrential centers, advising the kill chain for long-range precision fires.
  • 📊 Palantir's U.S. commercial business is surging, with a 70% growth in Q4, indicating a strong market presence beyond government contracts.
  • 🔍 The Department of Defense sees software as the most important weapon system, setting a clear path for the future of defense technology.
  • 🤝 The partnership with L3 Harris in this deal suggests a collaborative approach to defense contracting, where a software company leads the integration of advanced capabilities.
  • 📅 Palantir is hosting AIPCON, an artificial intelligence platform conference, where customers will showcase their AI use cases and the latest platform capabilities will be previewed.
  • 🚀 The rapid development and deployment of AI use cases, with some taking as little as eight hours, demonstrate the accelerating growth and impact of AI in business transformation.

Q & A

  • What is the significance of Palantir becoming the top contractor for an I-enabled vehicle?

    -This is a high-profile win for Palantir, marking the first time a software company has become the prime contractor for a significant hardware program, showcasing the increasing role of software and AI in military applications.

  • What was the value of the initial contract for the prototypes?

    -The initial contract was worth $178 million.

  • How did the news impact Palantir's shares?

    -Shares of Palantir ended the day up about 10% following the announcement.

  • What does Palantir's CTO, Shyam Sankar, say about the role of software in the world?

    -Shyam Sankar believes that software is 'eating the world' and that the contract is a manifestation of this, as Palantir is delivering an AI-defined vehicle for long-range, precision fires.

  • How does the contract win reflect on Palantir's position in the defense sector?

    -The contract win cements Palantir's position as a central player in the defense sector and opens up opportunities for the company to penetrate other areas.

  • What is the importance of the F-35 and Tesla in the context of Palantir's contract?

    -The F-35 is seen as a flying computer, and Tesla has disrupted the automotive industry by building a software-defined vehicle. These examples set a clear path for software to be the most important weapons system and a key factor in delivering lethality on the battlefield.

  • What is the role of Palantir's government business in terms of revenue?

    -The government business is still the largest for Palantir by revenue, but the U.S. commercial business is surging in terms of growth.

  • What is AIPCON and what can attendees expect from the event?

    -AIPCON is Palantir's Artificial Intelligence Platform Conference, where customers will showcase what they have built with AIP, and the latest capabilities of the platform will be previewed.

  • How does Palantir's partnership with L3 Harris relate to the contract?

    -Palantir is the lead contractor, and the entire vehicle and its capabilities are derived and designed around the software. L3 Harris is part of the team that enables Palantir to translate the vision into software and integrate it with space-based sensors and other systems.

  • What is the significance of the eight-hour timeframe mentioned by Shyam Sankar?

    -The eight-hour timeframe refers to the ability to leave a Palantir event with a production-ready use case that can start transforming a business, highlighting the rapid growth and impact of AI.

  • What was the growth rate of Palantir's U.S. commercial business in Q4?

    -The U.S. commercial business of Palantir grew by 70% in Q4.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Palantir's Milestone as Prime Contractor

Palantir has secured a significant contract worth $178 million for prototypes of an AI-enabled vehicle, marking the first time a software company has become the prime contractor for a major hardware program. This achievement is seen as a validation of Palantir's technology and the growing role of AI in military applications. The company's shares ended the day with a 10% increase. Palantir's Chief Technology Officer, Shyam Sankar, discusses the implications of this win, emphasizing the shift towards software-defined capabilities in defense technology and the potential for Palantir to transform the battlefield with AI.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Prime Contractor

A prime contractor is the main company awarded a contract to fulfill a project, often responsible for subcontracting other firms to assist in completing the work. In the context of the video, Palantir is the prime contractor for a high-profile hardware program, marking a significant milestone as it's the first time a software company has taken on this role in a major defense project.

💡AI-Defined Vehicle

An AI-defined vehicle is one that is designed and operates primarily through artificial intelligence, integrating AI systems into its core functions. In the video, Palantir is developing an AI-defined vehicle for military applications, which will enable long-range, precision fires and is built around the soldier's workflows.

💡Software Eating the World

This phrase suggests that software is becoming increasingly important and is transforming various industries. It implies that software's influence is pervasive and that traditional industries are being reshaped by the integration of software solutions.

💡Defense Tech Ecosystem

The defense tech ecosystem encompasses all the entities involved in the development, production, and maintenance of defense-related technology. It includes government agencies, private companies, and research institutions that collaborate to advance military capabilities.

💡Commercial Business Growth

Commercial business growth refers to the increase in revenue and market presence of a company's commercial operations. In the video, Palantir's U.S. commercial business is highlighted as surging, indicating a strong expansion in the non-governmental sector.

💡AI Platform Conference (AIPCON)

AI Platform Conference, or AIPCON, is an event where companies and individuals come together to discuss, learn, and showcase advancements in artificial intelligence platforms and applications. It's a gathering that promotes knowledge sharing and innovation in AI.

💡Boot Camps

In the context of the video, boot camps refer to intensive training sessions or workshops designed to quickly educate participants on a specific skill or technology, such as AI. These are often used by companies to accelerate the adoption and implementation of new technologies.

💡Long-Range Precision Fires

Long-range precision fires refer to the military's ability to accurately target and engage enemies from a significant distance. This capability is crucial for maintaining strategic advantage and minimizing friendly force exposure to enemy fire.

💡Capital Employed

Capital employed in a business context refers to the total amount of money invested in a company's operations, including both equity and debt. It's a measure of the resources a company has at its disposal to fund growth and expansion.

💡L3 Harris

L3 Harris is a defense technology company that provides advanced defense and commercial solutions. In the context of the video, L3 Harris is mentioned as a partner in the contract with Palantir, indicating a collaborative effort in the development of the AI-defined vehicle.

💡All T

The term 'All T' is not fully explained in the script, but it could be a reference to a specific military or defense program or concept. It suggests a comprehensive approach or strategy that the Department of Defense is advocating.

Highlights

Palantir has won a high-profile contract to build an AI-enabled vehicle.

The initial contract is worth $178 million for the prototypes.

This marks the first time a software company becomes the prime contractor of a major hardware program.

Palantir's shares ended the day up about 10%.

The vehicle is designed around AI to provide long-range, precision fires.

The vehicle is built around the soldier to enable their workflows.

AI is changing the face of warfare with this new vehicle.

Bank of America sees this as cementing Palantir's position in the defense sector.

Software is becoming the most important weapon system.

Palantir's technology is being tested and seen as a gold standard among senior DoD officials.

U.S. commercial business for Palantir is surging in terms of growth.

AIPCON, Palantir's AI platform conference, will showcase customer use cases and new capabilities.

Customers can leave AIPCON with a production-ready use case that starts transforming their business.

Palantir is the lead contractor for the entire vehicle and its capabilities, a first for a software company.

The vehicle's capabilities are derived and designed around the software.

Palantir's technology integrates with space-based sensors and terrestrial centers.

The contract win is a significant milestone for Palantir and the broader defense tech ecosystem.

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