Shyam Sankar

Shyam Sankar is the chief technology officer and executive vice president of Palantir Technologies, a leading software and artificial intelligence company. Sankar has spent more than two decades developing software and AI solutions for government and private sector organizations. After earning engineering degrees from Cornell and Stanford, he worked as a developer, startup founder, and executive at Xoom, a payments company focused on emerging markets. Sankar joined Palantir as its first business hire and was instrumental in creating the role of forward deployed engineer, a model that embeds engineers alongside clients to address complex, real-world challenges. This approach became central to Palantir's government and commercial operations, distinguishing the company within the software and AI industry.

As a technical leader, Sankar contributed to Palantir's evolution from a Silicon Valley startup to a global software and AI provider. Palantir's initial focus was on national security, developing tools to detect threats within large data sets. Over time, the technology expanded into healthcare, manufacturing, disaster response, and financial services. Palantir's platforms have supported efforts such as locating missing children, detecting banking fraud, and uncovering cyber-espionage networks. Sankar has played a key role in shaping Palantir's strategic direction, advocating for technological acceleration, reindustrialization, and collaboration between Silicon Valley and the defense sector.

Sankar is recognized as a public voice on technology, defense, and national security. In his TED Talk, "The Rise of Human-Computer Cooperation," he discussed the importance of designing computer programs that enhance human decision-making. Sankar supports the concept of intelligence augmentation, where algorithms and human expertise work together to solve complex problems. He has testified before the House Select Committee and the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, and is a frequent guest on CNBC. His work has been featured in American Affairs, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post.

Beyond Palantir, Sankar was commissioned as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve. He is the author of the bestselling book "Mobilize," which examines the challenges facing the American industrial base and strategies for revitalization. The book appeared on bestseller lists for Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and USA Today. Sankar launched the First Breakfast Initiative, where he publishes thought leadership on defense, strategy, AI, and innovation. He is the co-founder and chairman of Founders Films, a production company focused on American stories, and serves as chairman of Ginkgo Bioworks and as a trustee at Hudson Institute.