Because most other tech companies (except for a few of the very biggest ones) won't touch that business with a 10 foot pole. It used to be major reputational damage to be seen supporting things that kill people, etc...

The non tech companies can't compete. So the complete lack of competition means fat profits for not very good tech and services.

> It used to be major reputational damage to be seen supporting things that kill people, etc...

Whenever I see statements like this I have to wonder what people think Palantir’s software does. By your logic Microsoft Windows supports the killing of people since gov agencies use that too.

Project Maven to identify people from military drones using AI was taken over by Palantir when Google dropped out. Those military drones shoot missiles that kill people.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence_arms...

http://artificialintelligencemania.com/2020/01/08/palantir-t...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Atomics_MQ-1_Predato...

Care to apologize?

Keep in mind Palantir wouldn't exist without the efforts of Google, OpenAI, etc. Many of us in tech are unknowingly assisting the military industrial complex. I have seen such involvement actively downplayed in favor of more palatable government agencies who are mentioned all the time. The government created the Valley and continues to reap innovation from it.

Edit: I'll also add that there are thousands of little Palantirs you've never heard of, taking off the shelf tech, integrating it, and satisfying the needs of the 3 letter agencies. Palantir is big so they get the attention, but they're not that important in the scheme of things.

Yes this is true but many things that tech does are generic tools. It is just that certain companies and people choose to weaponize them.

My impression is that many of those are situated near DC?