Alex Karp, CEO of the controversial tech company Palantir, garnered attention during a recent live interview with the New York Times. In a viral clip of the exchange, Karp defended his firm to the Times’ Andrew Ross Sorkin, employing dramatic gestures, bouncing on his chair, and grappling to articulate his argument.
Palantir’s X account posted the video on Sunday morning, announcing Karp’s initiation of The Neurodivergent Fellowship: “If you find yourself relating to [Karp] in this video — unable to remain still, or thinking faster than you can express — we invite you to apply.”
Palantir revealed that Karp would personally handle final interviews for the fellowship. In response to the first message on X, the firm included an application link to the fellowship, available in Palantir’s New York City and Washington, D.C. locations.
“The current LLM technology landscape positions [neurodivergent individuals] to excel,” according to the application. “Pattern recognition. Non-linear thought processes. Hyperfocus. The cognitive attributes that set the neurodivergent apart are exactly what render them outstanding in an AI-driven environment.”
Palantir, a data and analytics firm co-founded by conservative “kingmaker” Peter Thiel, was swift to assert that the fellowship is not a DEI initiative.
“Palantir is introducing the Neurodivergent Fellowship as a recruitment avenue for exceptional neurodivergent talent,” as stated in the application. “This is not a diversity program. We believe neurodivergent individuals will possess a competitive edge as elite pioneers of the forthcoming technological age, and we’re hiring accordingly for all positions.”
Candidates do not require a formal diagnosis to qualify, and the role offers an annual salary ranging from $110,000 to $200,000, with the possibility of stock units and even a sign-on bonus.
Karp’s interview and his company’s new fellowship conclude a notable year for Palantir, which was engaged by the Trump White House to monitor immigrants in the U.S., assist in deportations, and potentially develop a comprehensive database on every American.