As Palantir Technologies Inc. PLTR stock soars 20.97% year-to-date, Harvard professor and economist Jason Furman has delivered a measured critique of CEO Alex Karp‘s new book, arguing it prioritizes cultural solutions over concrete policy recommendations.
What Happened: Furman wrote on X that “The Technological Republic” by Karp and Palantir Office of the CEO Nicholas Zamiska “advocates closer link between government and tech to solve big problems from defense to climate,” but criticized that “their solution rests on culture, is contemptuous of markets and disinterested in government policy.”
In his detailed review, Furman described the book as “perhaps the most cultural argument I have read about what has gone wrong with big tech and how to fix it.” He noted Karp and Zamiska want Silicon Valley to mirror their approach: patriotic Americans supporting national interests rather than focusing solely on consumer products.
The book argues that “the software industry should rebuild its relationship with government” to address pressing challenges, but Furman found himself “waiting for policy solutions” that never materialized. Instead, the authors offer cultural shifts as the primary remedy.
“I find myself in sympathy with many of their cultural arguments,” Furman acknowledged but questioned their “disdain for a classical liberal conception of capitalism” and lack of concrete governmental policy proposals.
Why It Matters: The book’s timing is notable as Palantir’s market capitalization has surged to $207 billion, exceeding traditional defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp. Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives has dubbed Palantir the “Messi of AI,” predicting 2025 will be a breakout year for the company’s AI platform.
Karp, whose Palantir holdings recently surged to $12.8 billion from $2.2 billion at the beginning of 2024, has emerged as the highest-earning U.S. tech CEO. The company is set to join the S&P 100 index, solidifying its remarkable rise during the AI boom and following President Donald Trump‘s return to the presidency.
Price Action: Palantir closed at $90.96 on Friday, up 4.09% for the day. In after-hours trading, the stock rose slightly to $91.21, gaining an additional 0.27%, according to data from Benzinga Pro. Over the past year, Palantir’s stock has surged 271.11%.
Benzinga Edge Rankings tell the full story about why Palantir enjoys a premium valuation. Check out momentum and growth scores here
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