#288 Shyam Sankar - Are We Sleepwalking Into World War 3?
3/16/20261 hr 35 min
Shyam Sankar is Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President at Palantir Technologies, where he has served since 2006 as one of the company’s earliest hires and key builders. A seasoned technologist with over two decades of experience, he has led the design and deployment of software platforms that support some of the world’s most complex and high-stakes environments. from defense operations to enterprise systems. Sankar holds a B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Cornell University and an M.S. in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University. His career reflects a commitment to advancing technology that strengthens national resilience and accelerates industrial and defense innovation. A vocal advocate for applying artificial intelligence to empower American workers and reindustrialize the United States, Sankar is deeply engaged in initiatives such as the American Tech Fellows program, which develops domestic AI talent. He regularly speaks on the role of AI in transforming national security and industry through practical adoption rather than speculation. Rejecting narratives of AI “doomerism,” Sankar emphasizes real-world deployment and measurable results—showing how Palantir’s tools are redefining the speed of warfare, industrial output, and decision-making across the defense and commercial landscapes. His insights are frequently featured in conversations about the future of AI, national power, and America’s technological edge. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: Join thousands of parents who trust Fabric to help protect their family—apply today in just minutes at https://meetfabric.com/SHAWN. Try Gusto today at https://gusto.com/SRS and get three months free when you run your first payroll. New customers can save 35% on your first month of Dose for Cholesterol by going to https://dosedaily.co/SRS or entering SRS at checkout. Shyam Sankar Links: X - https://x.com/ssankar Substack - https://www.shyamsankar.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shyamsankar On The Defense Reformation - https://18theses.com First Breakfast - https://www.firstbreakfast.com Book - https://www.amazon.com/Mobilize-Reboot-American-Industrial-World/dp/B0FQWGC94Z/ref=sr_1_1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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First 90 secondsSpeaker 00:00
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Shawn Ryan· Host0:26
[dramatic music] Shyam, welcome back, man.
Shyam Sankar· Guest0:35
Thanks for having me, Shawn. It's great to be back.
Shawn Ryan· Host0:37
I owe you a huge thank you. So the last time you were here, you wore a, uh, hooded blazer. So I saw it, and I was like, "What the fuck is that thing?" [laughing] It's amazing. So now I got a whole wardrobe of them.
Shyam Sankar· Guest0:49
I love it.
Shawn Ryan· Host0:49
But that was... Yeah, man, so thank you. But, um, but yeah, it's good to have you back. I'm, uh, I'm pumped about our conversation today, and I know you got the new book coming out and everything, but, um, what have you been up to?
Shyam Sankar· Guest1:02
Oh, man, uh, a lot's gone on in the world since we last met, and a lot's gone on for us. You know, I think, uh, trying to be a positive advocate for what I think is the future of AI for the American worker. You know, I, I think essentially the American people are being lied to there, and I've earned an opinion working with American workers on the front line, whether it's the factory floor or the ICU ward, uh, trying to bring back the bonds between our industrial base, like the private sector, and government again. And