'It's Us or Them': Palantir CEO Alex Karp Says China Is 'Doing Exceedingly Well at AI,' Warns America Must Lead

On Monday, Palantir Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) CEO Alex Karp warned that China’s growing artificial intelligence capabilities make American technological leadership increasingly critical, arguing that the U.S. must stay ahead in an intensifying global AI race.

Palantir CEO Says AI Dominance Can Help Prevent Wars

Karp made the remarks during the company’s third-quarter earnings call, responding to a question about Palantir’s self-description as a pioneer of a “genuine and viable anti-war movement.”

Karp argued that Palantir’s defense technology is designed to discourage conflicts by making potential adversaries aware of America’s military capabilities.

He said the company’s products can help protect troops, improve military effectiveness and reduce the likelihood of war through technological deterrence.

“I don’t actually like war. I want to avoid war. I do not support wars. Sometimes they are necessary,” Karp said, adding that America and its allies need the best available tools when conflicts cannot be avoided.

He also revisited Palantir’s founding philosophy, saying its technology was developed to help governments prevent terrorism without compromising civil liberties.

‘It’s Us or Them’: Karp Flags China’s AI Progress

Karp identified China as a formidable competitor in AI, acknowledging its technological strengths while stressing the need for American leadership.

“I happen to respect their culture quite a bit, China, but it is us or them,” he said.

Describing China’s AI capabilities, Karp called it a “dynamic, interesting super high IQ scaled culture” that is performing exceptionally well in the field.

“We’ve got to make sure we’re the leaders,” he added.

Karp also called for closer cooperation with European and other U.S. allies, arguing that they must embrace technological sovereignty and rethink AI regulation.

He criticized attempts to regulate AI like the telecommunications industry, saying the technology is transforming virtually every part of society.

Palantir Beats Q3 Earnings Estimates

Palantir reported third-quarter revenue of $2.31 billion, surpassing analyst expectations of $2.18 billion. Adjusted earnings came in at 44 cents per share, beating estimates of 41 cents, according to Benzinga Pro.

For the fourth quarter, the company forecast revenue of $2.649 billion to $2.653 billion, comfortably above the $2.46 billion analyst consensus.

Palantir also raised its full-year 2026 revenue outlook to $8.53 billion-$8.534 billion, up from its previous forecast of $8.15 billion-$8.16 billion and ahead of Wall Street’s estimate of $8.20 billion.

Price Action:  Palantir Technologies closed Monday at $178.34, down 3.13%. It fell another 2.99% to $173 in after-hours trading, according to Benzinga.com.

According to Benzinga Edge Rankings, Palantir stock ranks in the 97th percentile for Growth and the 85th percentile for Momentum.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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