Peter Thiel receives Axel Springer Award in Berlin

US investor Peter Thiel has been honored with the Axel Springer Award in Berlin. Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner described Thiel as ‘perhaps the most influential living German,’ citing his foundational roles in PayPal, Facebook, and Palantir.

The award specifically highlighted Palantir, noting its importance to the resilience of democracies. During the event, Thiel discussed the complexities of artificial intelligence, comparing the technology to a kitchen knife—a tool that is neither good nor evil, but depends on the intent of the user.

Thiel also touched upon geopolitical dynamics, characterizing the United States as ‘good’ and China as ‘evil,’ while noting that the West is often perceived as ‘bad’ in other global regions. The ceremony was attended by various figures, including Palantir CEO Alex Karp and Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder.