Alex Karp, the CEO of controversial tech company Palantir, raised eyebrows during a recent live interview with the New York Times. In a viral video of the discussion, Karp defended his company to the Times’ Andrew Ross Sorkin, gesturing dramatically with his arms, bouncing up and down on his chair, and struggling to make his point.

Palantir’s X account shared the video on Sunday morning and announced Karp is launching The Neurodivergent Fellowship: “If you find yourself relating to [Karp] in this video — unable to sit still, or thinking faster than you can speak — we encourage you to apply.”

Palantir announced Karp himself would conduct final interviews for the fellowship. In a reply to the first message on X, the company included an application link to the fellowship, which is available in Palantir’s New York City and Washington, D.C. offices.

“The current LLM tech landscape positions [neurodivergent people] to dominate,” according to the application. “Pattern recognition. Non-linear thinking. Hyperfocus. The cognitive traits that make the neurodivergent different are precisely what make them exceptional in an AI-driven world.”

Palantir, a data and analytics company co-founded by conservative “kingmaker” Peter Thiel, was quick to argue that the fellowship is not a DEI initiative.

“Palantir is launching the Neurodivergent Fellowship as a recruitment pathway for exceptional neurodivergent talent,” according to the application, “This is not a diversity initiative. We believe neurodivergent individuals will have a competitive advantage as elite builders of the next technological era, and we’re hiring accordingly for all roles.”

  • wizardbeard@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    14 hours ago

    Ah yes, let’s start the slow process of eventually funneling people into roles based off this shit. AI is the future, and potentially our self-bootstrapped god. Neurodivergence makes you better at this sort of work. You’re one of the chosen people. High priest to Roko’s Ballsack Basilisk or some shit.

    I know that’s extreme to say, but Peter Thiel, the money behind Palantir, recently gave some absolutely insane speeches about the fucking antichrist. The AI race is legitimately a cult with religious meaning to some of these fucks.

    Also, brace yourselves for attempts to use this as a shield against criticism. You can’t get mad at us for not understanding the concept of human dignity, we’ve got the billionaire international surveillance contractor stamp of the global elite approved neurodivergence!


    To be clear, no hate meant towards the neurodivergent. I am one. All the hate to the fucking billionaires just transparently fucking over the world in every way they can.