Palantir Chief Technology Officer Shyam Sankar told the "Ruthless Podcast" on Thursday, July 16, 2026, that since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, there has been a notable shift within the technology community. Tech entrepreneurs are increasingly building in the national interest.

"You have hundreds of founders out there now who are building in the national interest," Sankar said, calling it a "galvanizing message for us to go and get after it."

The interview took place at the Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit held at the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The summit was convened by Republican Senator Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania, bringing together technology and defense executives with senior government and military leaders.

Sankar, author of the bestselling book Mobilize: How to Reboot the American Industrial Base and Stop World War III, highlighted the economic benefits artificial intelligence (AI) is bringing to American communities, including in Pennsylvania. He noted that AI is "expanding the labor population, our ability to mobilize the American worker."

Podcast co-host Michael Duncan praised Sankar’s ability to make complex technology topics tangible for everyday Americans. Duncan also referenced recent political developments, such as New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s decision to freeze new data center construction and an AI moratorium supported by Senator Bernie Sanders, who said the moratorium is "the right call" because "AI must benefit humanity."

Sources