Palantir CEO Alex Karp attacks AI token pricing and rivals in televised interview

Palantir chief executive Alex Karp appeared on CNBC for a roughly 20‑minute interview during which he launched a pointed critique of the token‑based pricing models used by leading AI firms such as OpenAI and Anthropic. He described the per‑token charges as a “wealth tax” on enterprises, claimed they leave customers frustrated, and warned that reliance on Silicon Valley labs could turn the U.S. battlefield over to a “consensus view.” Karp also accused the labs of exploiting client data and called the practice of “tokenmaxxing” – spending aggressively on token usage – an addictive illusion of progress.

Following the interview, Palantir’s stock rose about 9 %. The company then posted a nine‑point “AI sovereignty” manifesto on X, urging institutions to retain their data, own model weights, and avoid token‑based pricing. The manifesto targets the same AI labs Karp railed against, positioning Palantir’s on‑premise AI solutions as the alternative.

Media outlets described Karp’s on‑air outburst as a “televised nervous breakdown,” noting his repeated interruptions, references to personal sobriety, and a claim that he was speaking for “twice as livid” U.S. businesses and governments.