Palantir has always been seen as one of the most mysterious companies in Silicon Valley. Many people have heard its name but do not exactly know what it does. Originally, Palantir was created to help with military intelligence and national security after the 9/11 attacks. Over time, it grew into a global company that works with both governments and private businesses. Today, Palantir helps organizations collect, combine, and analyze massive amounts of data so that better and faster decisions can be made. If you are wondering “Palantir what do they do?”, this article will explain their history, their technology, their key products, and the industries they work in. We will also look at why the company is often in the news for both its achievements and controversies.

What Is Palantir?

Palantir is a data analytics and artificial intelligence company. Its main focus is building software that brings together data from hundreds of different sources, organizes it, and then provides insights through AI. This makes the data easier to understand, even for people who are not technical experts.

At first, Palantir was mainly known for helping with military intelligence. Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan used its systems to avoid bomb attacks and ambushes. Later, it moved into other government areas like health, finance, and immigration. Over time, Palantir expanded into the private sector and now works with companies in healthcare, banking, manufacturing, energy, and even sports.

History of Palantir

Palantir was set up in 2003 by a team of entrepreneurs consisting of Peter Thiel, Alex Karp, Joe Lonsdale, and Stephen Cohen. The central concept followed the terrorist attack of 9/11. The founders were interested in developing software that could assist in combating terrorism and, at the same time, ensure that the privacy of people is not compromised.

Firstly, Palantir received initial capital in the form of In-Q-Tel, the CIA’s investment department. This relationship saw secure Government contracts with the defense service and the intelligence community in the United States. With time, the technology created by Palantir was deployed on the battlefield by soldiers and in secret offices by analysts to monitor the enemy, prevent attacks, and enhance the safety of the battlefield.

In 2009, Palantir started selling its software to businesses, with JPMorgan Chase becoming the first customer to identify fraud using Palantir software. Since that time, the company has expanded over time. Palantir is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange and is now worth billions of dollars, and has customers in over 40 industries.

How Does Palantir’s Technology Work?

When people ask “Palantir what do they do?”, the answer lies in their unique technology. Palantir’s software is not just a simple data dashboard. It is a powerful platform that combines artificial intelligence with data integration.

Most organizations have data scattered in many different systems and formats. It brings all of that data together in one place. It can handle structured data (like spreadsheets and databases) as well as unstructured data (like images, documents, and videos). Once the data is combined, Palantir applies AI models that look for patterns, make predictions, and generate insights.

In healthcare, as an example, this can assist in forecasting the way diseases can be transmitted. It can intercept suspicious financial transactions in the banking sector. In production, it can minimize delays through early identification of issues. It is this type of predictive power that makes Palantir special.

Security is also a major concern of the business. Not all data is accessible to everyone; permissions are restricted. All the steps made within the platform are also recorded; therefore, clients can be sure about who accessed the data and why.

Palantir’s Key Products

It has two main products that are widely used:

• Palantir Gotham—This is mainly for defense and intelligence agencies. It helps track terrorists, monitor threats, and support military missions.
  
• Palantir Foundry—This is used by commercial businesses. It helps companies organize their data, streamline operations, and make better business decisions.
  

Recently, Palantir also launched AIP (Artificial Intelligence Platform), which allows organizations to use large AI models safely in sensitive environments. This shows how Palantir is preparing for the AI future.

Palantir’s Markets and Customers

Half of Palantir’s revenue comes from government contracts, while the other half comes from private companies. In the government sector, Palantir works with the Department of Defense, the CIA, Homeland Security, and even health agencies. It has been used to stop tax fraud, manage COVID-19 vaccine distribution, and assist with immigration enforcement.

In the private sector, Palantir Foundry is used in over 40 industries. Banks use it to catch fraud, car companies use it to improve production, airlines use it to maintain aircraft safely, and Formula One racing teams use it to improve performance on the track.

Controversies Around Palantir

Despite the strong technology that it owns, this has not gone without criticism. The privacy organizations fear that software might be utilized to spy on the government. Its collaboration with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been a contentious issue, too, as it assisted in tracing the undocumented immigrants.

Predictive policing projects have also been associated with Palantir. Critics argue that other cities followed its software to anticipate crimes or find potential gang members, which in turn can result in racial prejudice and infringement of civil rights.

Even with these considerations, Palantir is growing, and the company believes that it is saving lives and enhancing the security of the nation.

Major Milestones of Palantir

To better understand the company’s journey, here is a simple table showing key milestones in Palantir’s history:

Year	Milestone	Description
2003	Founding	Palantir founded by Peter Thiel, Alex Karp, Joe Lonsdale, and Stephen Cohen
2005	CIA Funding	Received investment from In-Q-Tel, the CIA’s venture arm
2008	Military Use	Used in Iraq and Afghanistan to prevent attacks and improve security
2009	Commercial Expansion	JPMorgan Chase used Palantir software to detect fraud
2017	Foundry Launch	Expanded commercial platform for businesses in multiple industries
2020	IPO	Went public on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker symbol PLTR
2023	AIP Launch	Released AI-powered platform for commercial and government use
2024	U.S. Army Contract	Awarded $178 million contract for AI battlefield intelligence system
2025	Immigration Focus	Renewed contracts with ICE under the Trump administration

Palantir Today and Future

Palantir is a data analytics company that is among the most significant today in the world. It collaborates with governments to enhance security and businesses to enable operations to be efficient. It is oriented on artificial intelligence, and this factor implies that it is likely to have an even more significant role in the future of data-driven decision-making.

Simultaneously, the company is still controversial. The advocates perceive to save lives, save money, and enhance efficiency. Opponents are afraid that it will be abused as a surveillance device. Such a balance between innovation and ethics will most probably characterize the way Palantir will travel in the upcoming years.

Conclusion

So, palantir what do they do? In simple terms, Palantir helps governments and businesses turn huge amounts of complex data into useful insights using advanced software and AI. It started as a military intelligence company but has grown into a global leader in data analytics. Whether in defense, healthcare, finance, or manufacturing, it continues to shape how organizations use data.

As the world becomes more dependent on artificial intelligence, Palantir is set to remain a powerful, yet controversial, player in the global technology space.

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